WEST POINT, Ga. – No. 24 Tennessee Southern split a conference doubleheader on the road Saturday at Point, bouncing back with a dominant performance in the nightcap.
Point 3, Tennessee Southern 2
The opener saw the Firehawks battle throughout but fall just short despite steady offensive pressure.
Point struck first in the opening inning, but UT Southern answered in the fourth. Alaina Grace King singled and later scored when Kurstin Warrick laced an RBI double to left, tying the game at 1-1.
The Firehawks threatened again in the fifth as Haley McDaniel tripled to center and Lauren Pettie followed with a single, but UT Southern was unable to push across the go-ahead run.
Point regained the lead in the sixth, plating two runs to move ahead 3-1.
UT Southern mounted one final push in the seventh. Mikayla McCain singled to start the inning and later scored on King's RBI double, cutting the deficit to 3-2. The Firehawks brought the tying run into scoring position, but could not complete the comeback.
King led the offense with two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Warrick added two doubles and an RBI, while McDaniel recorded a triple. Pettie, McCain, Bodily, Cook, and Hall each added a hit.
In the circle, Stella Gilbreath went the distance, striking out six.
Tennessee Southern 9, Point 0
The Firehawks responded in a big way in game two, breaking open a scoreless contest with a late offensive surge.
After three quiet innings, Mikayla McCain launched a solo home run in the fourth to give UT Southern a 1-0 lead.
The Firehawks erupted in the fifth. Emory Hall singled to spark the rally before Alaina Grace King delivered a two-RBI single. McCain followed with an RBI single, and Marie Bodily added a run-scoring base hit. Carley Cook capped the inning with an RBI double as UT Southern pushed the lead to 6-0.
Hall continued the momentum in the sixth with a solo home run, and the Firehawks added two more runs in the seventh as Hannah Lindsey delivered a two-RBI double to close the scoring at 9-0.
McCain led the offense with three hits, including a home run, and two RBIs. Hall finished with two hits, including a home run, and an RBI while scoring twice. Bodily added two hits and an RBI, while Cook recorded two hits, including a double, and an RBI. King finished with a hit and two RBIs, and Lindsey added a double and two RBIs. Pettie contributed a hit and scored, and McDaniel added a hit and a run scored.
In the circle, Ella Singletary earned the win with five shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three. Ava Harris closed out the final two innings to complete the shutout.
Tennessee Southern returns to action Thursday, April 2, traveling to Mobile for another SSAC matchup.
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