Tigers drop game 2 pitching duel

Georgetown's offense was nearly silent in Friday's game 1 loss to Freed-Hardeman. Game 2 was better, but the Tigers had pitching to go with it. Freed-Hardeman had the pitching and just enough offense as the Lions walked-off a 2-1 win over the Tigers to take the game.

The Tigers got on the board in the top of the 1st. With 2 out, Michalee Clay singled to left. Kinley Lucas followed with a single to right field. The throw back in got away from the Lion defense, allowing Clay to come all the way around to score and sending Lucas to 3rd. Delaney Vaughn struck out to end the inning, but the Tigers still gave starter Elle Prewitt the lead.

Prewitt cruised through the bottom of the first in order. She allowed a single in the bottom of the 2nd, but a ground ball retired the runner to end the inning. Georgetown looked to add the lead in the top of the 3rd as Alanna Pierce laced a 2-out double to left center. She was left stranded as Michalee Clay grounded out to retire the threat. Georgetown kept the lead as Prewitt again retired the FHU side in order.

The Tigers looked for more offense in the top of the 4th. With 1 out, Delaney Vaughn drew a walk. Ainsley Herron then laid down a perfect bunt base hit to move Vaughn to 2nd. Kady Dennis hit a sharp grounder to 3rd that was fielded cleanly and led to a 5-3 inning-ending double play.

Addi Watson took over for Elle Prewitt in the circle for the bottom of the 4th. The Lions tallied 2 straight singles to start the half-inning. Watson bounced back with a strikeout, followed by a fielder's choice and line out to retire the side and keep the Lions off the scoreboard.

As the game moved to the 6th, Georgetown continued looking for more than a 1-0 lead. Michalee Clay drew a leadoff walk and moved to 2nd after a Kinley Lucas single. The pair stole 3rd and 2nd with 1 out. The key play of the game to that point then followed as Ainsley Herron grounded to 1st. A quick throw home got Clay out at the plate and Herron could not beat the throw back to first. The 3-2-3 double play flipped the momentum to the Lions, who took advantage in the bottom of the inning.

A single and sac bunt started the bottom of the 6th and ended Addi Watson's time in the game as Emma Cummings was brought on for a potential 5-out save. Cummings struck out the first batter she faced, but then allowed a single to left that brought the game-tying run home. Cummings induced a pop-up to end the inning.

As was the case in game 1, Freed-Hardeman went at Cummings immediately. A single and double started the bottom of the 7th and put the winning run 60 feet away. A pop-up to short marked the first out. The next batter was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With a force at any base, Freed-Hardeman found space with a single to left center to walk off the win.

The series finale is scheduled for Saturday at 1:00pm.