Lady Lions overcome slow start with late runs in victory
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Thomas More | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 3 |
|
Freed-Hardeman | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | X | 8 | 12 | 1 |
May 4, 2023
by Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Playing in their first game of the 2023 Mid-South Conference Tournament, the No. 21 Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions spotted the Thomas More (Ky.) University Saints four runs before plating seven in the final two innings to seal an 8-4 victory Thursday afternoon.
The Lady Lions (24-11) saw a leadoff double come off of the bats of the TMU Saints, who never looked back in the opening inning. The No. 6 seed Saints would then connect on four consecutive base knocks - including an RBI double to jump ahead 4-0 before FHU approached the plate. Sophie Dunavant connected on a two-out double, but could advance no further.
The sisters of Catherine Crabb and Madelyn Crabb teamed up to cut into the Thomas More (26-17) lead after C. Crabb led off the third frame with a single. After a set of groundouts moved her to third, M. Crabb's infield single was enough to plate the first Lady Lion run, still trailing 4-1.
The third and fourth innings went by without incident until the FHU bats found their way to Bowling Green in the bottom of the fifth inning. M. Crabb led off the inning with another infield hit before Kennedy Harris-Bennett smashed a two-run shot - her ninth of the year - over the centerfield fence to see the Lady Lions trail by a lone run 4-3. Dunavant perfectly placed a single through the hole at second base before steaming across all three remaining bases on Myleah Hardy's RBI double to knot the game 4-4. With Hardy's pinch runner, Natalie Gilmore, on second, Cassie Hayes's double would plate the go-ahead run to put FHU on top 5-4.
Adding insurance, FHU - the No. 3 seed in the tournament - would score three more unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth. After a walk and a fielder's choice put Harris-Bennett and Karli Quillin on the bases, a double steal proved fortuitous for the Lady Lions when an attempt to get the lead runner out at third went rolling to the left field wall, allowing both runs to score. Dunavant continued her hot turn at the dish, doubling to left-center before scoring on Hardy's RBI single to put a bow on the 8-4 victory.
In relief of starter Chloe Winters, Brittany Adair (12-7) absolutely flummoxed the Saints, striking out nine batters in four innings of hitless action.
Sophie Dunavant led the FHU offense by going 3-4 with a pair of doubles. Catherine Crabb, Madelyn Crabb, and Myleah Hardy each tallied two base hits, while Kennedy Harris-Bennett led the run production with two RBI.
Up Next
In a rematch of the regular season's final series, the Lady Lions will take on No. 19 Campbellsville (Ky.) tomorrow, May 5, at 9:00 a.m. The Tigers, holding the No. 2 seed in the tournament, won their first tournament game today against Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) College.