HENDERSON, Tenn. – Tennessee Southern split a midweek doubleheader Tuesday at Freed-Hardeman, falling in a tightly contested opener before responding with a decisive victory in the nightcap.
Freed-Hardeman 4, Tennessee Southern 3
The opener remained scoreless through the early innings before Freed-Hardeman pushed across the first run in the third on a sacrifice fly.
UT Southern threatened in the fourth when Alaina Grace King singled and Carley Cook followed with a base hit to center, placing two runners aboard. A walk by Mikayla McCain loaded the bases, but the Firehawks were unable to break through.
Freed-Hardeman extended the lead in the fifth with a pair of runs to make it 3-0.
UT Southern mounted a rally in the seventh. McCain worked a leadoff walk and Taylor Gilreath entered as a pinch runner. Kurstin Warrick followed with a single through the left side before Hannah Lindsey reached on a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners.
Emory Hall delivered the Firehawks' first run with an RBI single to left, scoring Gilreath. Moments later, Evi Edwards entered as a pinch hitter and lined a single up the middle to bring home both Hall and Lindsey, tying the game at 3-3.
Hall finished 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Edwards drove in two with her pinch-hit single. King and Cook each recorded a hit, and Warrick added a single during the rally.
Freed-Hardeman answered in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly to walk off the contest.
Tennessee Southern 10, Freed-Hardeman 2
The Firehawks responded emphatically in game two, erupting for five runs in the second inning to seize control.
Marie Bodily opened the rally with a single before Mikayla McCain followed with a base hit up the middle. Hannah Lindsey added another single to load the bases, setting the stage for Emory Hall, who ripped a triple to right center to clear the bases and give UT Southern a 3-0 lead. Haley McDaniel followed with an RBI single up the middle, and later in the inning Alaina Grace King delivered another run with a single to center to push the advantage to 5-0.
Freed-Hardeman plated two runs in the third, but the Firehawks added insurance in the fifth. Evi Edwards launched a solo home run to left center to spark the inning. Bodily and Lindsey followed with singles before Hall delivered another RBI base hit. McDaniel drew a walk to load the bases, and Lauren Pettie was hit by a pitch to force in a run. King followed with a bases-loaded walk, and Cook added another walk to bring home the final run.
Hall led the offense with a triple, two hits, and four RBIs. McDaniel recorded two hits and drove in a run, while Bodily finished with two hits and two runs scored. Lindsey added two hits, and Edwards contributed a home run and an RBI. King recorded a hit and two RBIs.
In the circle, Ella Singletary earned the win after tossing a complete five-inning performance, allowing two runs while striking out four.
Tennessee Southern will now turn its attention to conference play, opening SSAC competition on Friday, March 13, with a road trip to Faulkner.
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