By Dustin Semore
FHU Information Director
The (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions put the tying run on second in the bottom of the seventh, but could not score as the Ottawa (Kan.) University Braves ended FHU’s season with a 2-1 final.
Karli Quillin got the ball rolling for the No. 3 seed FHU (31-18) with a leadoff single in the bottom of the first, eventually advancing to second. A flyout ended the early threat with a 0-0 score.
Fourth-seeded Ottawa (39-17) took advantage of a leadoff hit batter in the top of the third, with the runner moving to second with a stolen base. A two-out double put the Braves on the scoreboard first to take a 1-0 lead. Ottawa had deja vu in the top of the fourth when the leadoff hit batsman stole second. Two singles later, the leadoff runner tapped home to give Ottawa a 2-0 lead over the Lady Lions.
Natalie Gilmore got going in the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff single before Brooklyn Jimmerson and Chloe Carter reached to load the bases with one out. Unfortunately for FHU, the Ottawa hurler tossed back-to-back strikeouts to leave the bases full of Lady Lions.
In the bottom of the sixth, Jimmerson led off reaching due to an error before Brinley Cousar connected for a single and Olivia White walking to load the bases with one out. Again, the OU pitching escaped danger with an infield fly and a groundout leaving the bases loaded for the second time.
The Lady Lions plated their first run of the tournament in the bottom of the seventh after Quillin led off the frame with a double over the right fielder’s head. After Gilmore sacrificed her at-bat to move Quillin to third, Alivia Eggleston launched a double into the left-field gap to score Quillin and put herself into scoring posistion representing the tying run with one out. Two quick groundouts ended the comeback bid and the 2024 season with a 2-1 loss.
Brittany Adair (8-5) took the loss in the complete game. The senior tacked eight more strikeouts onto her career line, making FHU’s new career strikeout record 764. She also now holds the FHU record for the lowest earned run average with a career ERA of 1.52 across an even 500 innings of effort.
Karli Quillin had two hits in the loss, with Chloe Carter, Brinley Cousar, Alivia Eggleston, and Natalie Gilmore recorded FHU’s other four hits.
