HENDERSON, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Southern softball team split a pair with NAIA perennial powerhouse Freed-Hardeman on Tuesday. UT Southern took game one in extra frames 7-3, and FHU outlasted the Firehawks in game two 8-7.

GAME ONE

UT Southern (12-7) got on the board early scoring a run in the first and second. Allie Toone reached on a Lion error allowing Hayley Parrott to cross the plate. UTS led 1-0 after one.

In the second, Parrott singled up the middle driving in Stella Gilbreath. The Firehawks led 2-0 after two innings.

In the fifth, Freed-Hardeman scored three runs in the inning to take the lead 3-2.

In the sixth, Mikayla McCain blasted a ball out of Tucker Field to knot the game at three after six innings.

In the eighth, Gilbreath launched a moon shot out of the park scoring Haley Barnes. Toone singled to short scoring Parrott and Anisten Burleson. UTS led 7-3 heading to the Lion half.

FHU would score one, and the Firehawks would hang on to win their fourth in-a-row.

Kassidy Davis got the start and took the extra inning win. Davis allowed four runs on nine hits.

GAME TWO

UT Southern (12-8) exploded for four runs in the opening frame. Gilbreath drew a walk to score Parrott. McCain singled to right scoring Toone. Barnes singled up the middle scoring Davis. Abigail Hornbuckle singled to left driving in Davis. The Firehawks led 4-0 after one.

Hannah Lindsey singled up the middle scoring Parrott. UTS held the advantage 5-0 heading to the FHU half. The Lions would push one across to trail by four after two innings.

In the third, Parrott singled to left scoring Barnes. Freed would answer back scoring three in the third to shave the UTS lead to three heading to the fourth.

FHU tied the game in the fifth, scoring three runs.

In the final inning, Hornbuckle reached on a dropped fly allowing Gilbreath to cross the plate. The Firehawks were three outs away from another win.

The Lions walked off the win scoring a pair of runs.

Gilbreath tossed five innings in the start. She allowed five earned runs on 10 hits. Davis suffered the loss. She pitched the final 1.1 innings allowing two earned runs.

NEXT UP

UT Southern will travel to Blue Mountain, Miss., to battle the Toppers on Saturday, March 16. The first game of the twin bill will begin at two p.m.

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