GULF SHORES, Ala. – Tennessee Southern opened play at the Gulf Shores Invitational on Thursday with a pair of victories, rallying late to defeat Morningside before edging Campbellsville in a tightly contested afternoon matchup.
UT Southern 5, Morningside 4
Morningside struck early with two runs in the first inning and added another in the second to take a 3-0 lead. UT Southern began to chip away in the third when Ella Singletary singled to start the inning and Mikayla McCain followed with an RBI double to left. Carley Cook kept the rally going with a double of her own, bringing McCain home to cut the deficit to 3-2.
The Mustangs added a run in the fourth, but the Firehawks answered in the bottom half. Emory Hall opened the inning with a single before Haley McDaniel added a base hit to move the tying run into scoring position. Singletary then delivered another single, setting the stage for McCain's second RBI double of the game. The two-bagger scored both McDaniel and Singletary to tie the game at 4-4.
The contest remained even until the final frame. Alaina Grace King reached on an error to start the seventh and used her speed to swipe both second and third. With two outs, Marie Bodily lined a single to center field to score King and lift the Firehawks to the 5-4 walk-off victory.
Singletary led the offense with a perfect 3-for-3 day while scoring twice. McCain went 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Cook added a double and an RBI, while King doubled and scored the winning run. Bodily drove in the decisive run, and Hall contributed a hit.
In the circle, Stella Gilbreath went the distance to earn the win, allowing four runs while striking out four.
UT Southern 3, Campbellsville 2
The Firehawks carried the momentum into the second game of the day, overcoming an early deficit to secure a 3-2 victory over Campbellsville.
Campbellsville scored twice in the opening inning, but UT Southern steadily worked its way back into the game. Haley McDaniel singled in the fifth inning and later stole third to move into scoring position. Mikayla McCain drew a walk to extend the rally before Cook delivered a clutch two-RBI double to left field, bringing home both runners to tie the game at 2-2.
Moments later, Marie Bodily provided the go-ahead run with an RBI single to left field, scoring Cook to give the Firehawks their first lead of the contest.
McDaniel finished with two hits and a stolen base, while Cook recorded a double and two RBIs. Bodily added a hit and an RBI, and Lauren Pettie collected two hits. Singletary chipped in a hit, and King added a base knock and reached base twice.
Singletary earned the win in the circle, tossing a complete game while striking out six.
Tennessee Southern returns to action tomorrow, March 7, to close out the Gulf Shores Invitational with matchups against Texas A&M–Victoria and Texas A&M–Texarkana.
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