WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. – Tennessee Southern battled in a Saturday doubleheader at Williams Baptist, falling in the opener before dropping an extra-inning thriller in the nightcap. The Firehawks showcased offensive depth throughout the day as they now turn their attention to tournament play.
Game One – Williams Baptist 5, Tennessee Southern 1
UT Southern threatened early but couldn't break through in the opener.
After Williams Baptist plated a run in the bottom of the first, Alaina Grace King sparked the Firehawks' offense in the second with a single to center. King finished the game a perfect 3-for-3, including a double in the sixth inning.
Hannah Lindsey singled in the third, and Carley Cook added a single in the fourth, but UT Southern stranded runners in key moments. In the sixth, King doubled to left center to put two in scoring position, yet the Firehawks were unable to capitalize.
UT Southern broke through in the seventh. Lindsey worked a walk and Emory Hall followed with a walk to set the table. Haley McDaniel moved both runners into scoring position with a groundout, and Ella Singletary delivered an RBI on a fielder's choice to bring home Lindsey for the Firehawks' lone run.
King led the offense with three hits, while Cook and Lindsey added one apiece.
In the circle, Stella Gilbreath went six innings, striking out three.
Game Two – Williams Baptist 10, Tennessee Southern 9 (8 innings)
The nightcap turned into a back-and-forth battle that went to extra innings.
UT Southern struck first in the second inning. King singled, Evi Edwards followed with a base hit, and Singletary delivered another single to load the bases. Kurstin Warrick drove in the first run with a single to right, and McDaniel added an RBI single later in the inning as the Firehawks built a 3-0 lead.
After Williams Baptist answered with five runs in the third, UT Southern responded in the fourth. Edwards reached and Singletary singled before Warrick drove in a run. The Firehawks trimmed the deficit to 5-4.
The fifth inning was pivotal. Lauren Pettie and Mikayla McCain opened with singles, and King delivered a two-RBI single to tie the game. Edwards followed with a base hit, and Singletary added another RBI single as UT Southern reclaimed the lead at 7-6.
Williams Baptist surged back in the bottom half to take a 9-7 advantage, but the Firehawks continued to fight. In the sixth, Edwards singled home McCain to make it 9-8.
In the seventh, Warrick reached on an error and advanced to third before McDaniel lined a game-tying RBI single to left to knot the score at 9-9 and force extra innings.
In the eighth, Edwards collected her fourth hit of the game, and UT Southern threatened with runners on, but Williams Baptist answered in the bottom half to walk it off.
Edwards went a perfect 4-for-4 with an RBI. McDaniel collected three hits and two RBIs. King added two hits and two RBIs, while Singletary went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Warrick tallied two hits and two RBIs, and McCain added two hits and scored twice. Pettie chipped in two hits as well.
Singletary worked seven innings in the circle, striking out nine.
Tennessee Southern now heads to Gulf Shores, Ala., for the Gulf Shores Invitational, where the Firehawks will face Morningside and Campbellsville.
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