2012 Softball

PULASKI, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman Lady Lion softball team picked up another double-header split to close out the Martin Methodist Meltdown this past weekend, losing to No. 25 McKendree (Ill.) College, 12-1, before bouncing back to defeat Georgetown (Ky.) College, 8-6.

McKendree used a nine-run fifth inning to blow the first game open, taking advantage of 14 walks issued by FHU's pitchers.  After McKendree scored once in the first inning, the Lady Lions tied it in the top of the second after Betsy Pickler led off the inning with double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Traci Gibbons and scored on a wild pitch.

McKendree scored once in the top of the second and third to take a 3-1 lead before putting the game away in the fifth inning.

In game two, FHU overcame a 4-0 deficit and rallied to beat Georgetown in extra innings.

The Lady Tigers got two runs in the third and fourth innings before Freed-Hardeman got on the board in the top of the fifth.  Pickler led off the inning with a single and scored on Amber Vansandt's double to left-center.  Caneshia Turner pinch-ran for Vansandt and later scored when the Georgetown right fielder misplayed a ball off the bat of Samantha Stricklin.

Georgetown retook the lead with a run in the bottom of the inning and maintained the 5-2 lead going into the seventh.  But the Lady Lions plated four runs, including two on a single by Brittany Steverson, to go ahead 6-5 heading into the bottom of the inning.  The Lady Tigers tied the game and forced extra innings, where Stricklin would drive in the game-winning runs with a two-out double.

Britney Caldwell (2-0) then retired the side in the bottom of the eighth to secure the win.

Pickler finished the day with four hits, two in each game, while Stricklin went 2-for-4 in the second game.

FHU returns to the field for its home opener on March 2 against NCAA Divsion II Christian Brothers (Tenn.) University.