By Dustin Semore
FHU Sports Information Director
On March 26, despite a fast start from their opposition, the No. 14 Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions run-ruled the Bethel (Tenn.) University Wildcats to sweep the series with a 14-2 win in five innings.
Facing the Lady Lions’ (12-6, 5-3 MSC) Brittany Adair, the Wildcats drew a leadoff walk followed by four consecutive base hits to take an early 2-0 lead. After a mound visit from Coach Todd Humphry, the senior All-American buckled down to strike out the next two batters to strand three Bethel runners.
Sophie Dunavant led off the second inning with a double, advancing to third on a single from Catherine Crabb. Despite Dunavant being content to stay put at third, an errant throw back to the infield from the Bethel (14-13, 4-5 MSC) outfield saw the Lady Lion catcher coming home to score the first FHU run.
FHU batted around in a six-run third inning that started with Brinley Cousar reaching by way of the Wildcats’ second error of the day. After singles from Kennedy Harris-Bennett and Karli Quillin, Myleah Hardy’s RBI single brought home Cousar with the tying run. With a single to center, Dunavant brought home Harris-Bennett to put FHU on top 3-2. A groundout by Anna Kate Norton drove home Quillin before a wild pitch allowed Natalie Gilmore (pinch running for Hardy) to score. A two-run single from the bat of Kiersten Mesler ended the scoring for the bottom of the third with the Lady Lions holding a 7-2 advantage.
It was the long ball for FHU that vaulted the girls in maroon to a seven-run fourth inning. After Quillin led off the inning with a walk, Hardy hammered her season’s fourth homer over the center field wall. With Norton and Hayes on base, Brinley Cousar joined the hit party with a two-run single to center field before Harris-Bennett (6) launched a three-run shot to left to end the FHU onslaught for a 14-2 victory.
After the early struggle, Brittany Adair (8-4) righted the ship by punching out 10 of the last 13 batters she faced to earn the victory. Katelyn Bradford pitched the final inning for FHU, striking out one.
The Lady Lions tallied 13 hits on the day, with two hits each from the bats of Brinley Cousar, Catherine Crabb, Sophie Dunavant, Kennedy Harris-Bennett, and Myleah Hardy. Harris-Bennett and Hardy teamed up to drive in three runs each.
Up Next: The Lady Lions will hit the road for a three-game series with the FireHawks of the University of Tennessee Southern. A single game at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 31, will be followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, April 1, beginning at noon.
