In the final day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic, the No. 20 Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions poured on a season-high 15 hits to help FHU to a 12-1 victory in six innings over the Kentucky Christian University Saints.
FHU (6-5) got rolling in the top of the second inning with back-to-back singles from Chloe Carter and Brinley Cousar. Carter would later score on a wild pitch before Karli Qullin’s single drove home Cousar for the second run of the game. With two runners on base, Natalie Gilmore legged out a two-run triple before scoring herself due to Molli Deere’s two-bagger to give FHU a 5-0 lead after two innings.
The Lady Lions tacked on a sixth run in the top of the third with Myleah Hardy scoring on Kiersten Mesler’s double down the left field line. With Kentucky Christian (1-7) picking up a run in the bottom half of the frame, the Lady Lions led 6-1 after three complete innings.
After a throwing error by the Knights allowed Quillin to score FHU’s seventh run in the top of the fourth inning, it was a five-run sixth that put the game out of reach. Quillin led off the inning with a double to left-center, later scoring on Deere’s second double of the game. After a passed ball let a run cross, Hardy picked a great spot for her first home run of the season with a three-run blast giving FHU the 12-1 victory.
Kylee Brown (3-2) earned the victory in the circle, seeing one unearned run cross in five full innings of work.
The entire FHU order was locked in with Karli Quillin and Natalie Gilmore each going 3-4 from the plate, while Brinley Cousar, Molli Deere, and Myleah Hardy each collecting two hits. Hardy’s three RBIs led FHU’s run production.
Brinley Cousar was named to the All-Tournament team after tallying nine hits at a .563 clip in the five-game tournament where the senior scored seven runs while driving in two. After the first month of the season Cousar leads the team in batting average (.514), hits (18), and OPS (1.179). Her 19 hits leads the Mid-South and lands her in a tie for the seventh-most hits in the nation. Up Next: The Lady Lions will rest for a little over a week, next hitting the diamond in the Gulf Shores invitational where they will again play five games in three days while facing two ranked opponents beginning with the No. 12 University of Mobile (Ala.) Rams at 3:45 p.m. in Gulf Shores, Alabama, on Friday, March 1.
