By Dustin Semore
FHU Information Director
The Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions started well by containing the No. 5 University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) Patriots in the early innings of their Sunday doubleheader. The Patriots; however, were able to plate six late runs in both games to win 6-1 in game one before shutting out the Lady Lions 6-0 in the series finale.
Game 1: UC – 6 FHU – 1
The Lady Lions (21-14, 10-7 MSC) saw a leadoff walk followed by a pair of hit batters surrounding a sacrifice bunt to load the bases with one out. After a quick circle meeting, Brittany Adair struck out the next two batters to strand three before continuing to fill up the zone by striking out the side in the second inning.
FHU and UC (34-4, 15-0 MSC) swapped scoreless innings until the Patriots turned a leadoff walk into a run thanks to an RBI single. A pair of two-run homers in the top of the sixth gave the Cumberlands a 5-0 lead after the top of the sixth.
Alivia Eggleston touched a 1-1 offering over the wall in center to lead off the sixth with a home run, but UC buckled down to give the Lady Lions a 6-1 defeat.
Brittany Adair (6-4) struck out eight Patriots in a complete game effort.
Karli Quillin had two of the Lady Lions’ four hits.
Game 2 UC – 6 FHU – 0
The Lady Lions (21-15, 10-8 MSC) and the Patriots opened up the series finale with a pitchers’ duel with neither team scratching a run across until UC plated two runs in the top of the fifth.
A two-out double helped the Patriots (35-4, 16-0 MSC) extend their lead to 3-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning. Natalie Gilmore led off the home half of the frame with a single before Chloe Cater’s single was chased by a two-out walk from Brinley Cousar to load the bases and bring the goahead run to the plate, but a new UC pitcher struck out the last batter of the inning to save the lead.
A two-run home run in the top of the seventh extended the Patriot lead to the final tally of 6-0.
Chloe Winters (5-5) struck out six Patriots in 6 2/3 innings.
Natalie Gilmore connected for three of FHU’s eight hits in the final game, while Olivia White was 2-3.
