LEBANON, Tenn. – Taylor Woodring’s two-run single capped a six-run first inning and Natasha Trujillo earned a save with 2.2 scoreless innings and Cumberland split a doubleheader against 22nd-ranked Freed-Hardeman, winning 7-6 before dropping a 4-2 decision in softball action here Tuesday at the CU Softball Field.
The Phoenix (12-5) took advantage of two errors, two walks, a hit batter and three hits to plate six runs in the bottom of the first in the opener. Brigid Antonelli doubled in a run and Tyra Graham added an RBI single after reaching on an error and scoring to open the frame.
Cumberland managed just three hits and six baserunners over the final five innings, with Imani Torregano pushing across CU’s final run with an RBI single in the fourth.
Freed-Hardeman (10-5) scored two runs in the fourth on a homer by Morgan Crawford and Callie Mitchell’s pinch-hit grand slam pulled the Lions within 7-6 in the fifth. FHU loaded the bases with one out later in the inning but Trujillo entered, getting a pop-up and a strikeout to end the threat.
The lefthander gave up one hit with two outs in the seventh but induced a groundout to end the contest.
Woodring posted two hits and two RBIs for the Phoenix. Morgan Arndt (6-1) allowed six runs on five hits in 4.1 innings for the win, walking six and striking out one. FHU’s Crawford (6-4) allowed seven runs, two earned, on six hits in six innings to take the loss. She also collected two hits and two RBIs for the Lions.
Freed-Hardeman hit three homers in the second contest, accounting for all of their runs. Kaylyn Graham belted a two-run shot in the first and a solo home run in the fourth before a solo shot in the fifth by Cassie Hayes.
Graham doubled in the first and scored on a single by Imani Torregano, but FHU starter Emily Bradford (4-0) posted 12 ground ball outs, working around baserunners in six of the seven innings. She gave up two runs on eight hits for the win.
Down 4-1, Cumberland loaded the bases in the seventh with singles from Bailey Giordano, Jasmine Krauss and Callie Perkins and Graham’s fly ball down the leftfield line was caught by Brittany Jarrell. Giordano scored by Krauss was doubled off at second and pinch-hitter Madison Woodruff grounded out to end the contest.
Kayley Caplinger (4-3) took the loss, giving up four runs on four hits in 4.1 innings.
Cumberland jumped out to an early lead with six runs in the first thanks to a pair of errors by the Lions.
Graham reached on an error to start the inning and Torregano walked before Caplinger’s bunt was booted by the catcher, allowing Graham to come across with a run. Caplinger and Torregano executed the double steal for another run and Antonelli’s double plated Caplinger.
Paolo Del Valle was hit and Tawnee Hegre bounced into a fielder’s choice, forcing out Antonelli at third. Woodruff walked, loading the bases, and Woodring’s two-out single to center scored a pair. Graham singled through the left side, pushing across another run for a 6-0 CU lead after an inning.
The Lions got on the board with a leadoff double from Graham in the fourth and Annalise Jarnigan’s sacrifice bunt pushed the runner to third. Crawford then belted a two-run homer to left.
The Phoenix got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Woodring singled to left and went to second on Graham’s sac bunt. Torregano then singled through the left side, past a moving shortstop, for a 7-2 CU lead.
FHU cut into the deficit with a big fifth inning, starting with a leadoff walk to Jarrell. Kristen Hunsicker singled and Sophie Dunavant walked, loading the bases for pinch-hitter Caitlin Mitchell. She swung and missed twice but belted a 2-2 pitch over the wall in leftcenter, pulling the Lions within 7-6.
Arndt loaded the bases with free passes to Jarnagin, Crawford and Allie Mitchell but Trujillo bailed her out, getting a pop-up and a strikeout to keep Cumberland in the lead.
The Lions got a two-out single to right from Crawford in the seventh but Allie Mitchell grounded out to end the contest.
Hayes was hit to leadoff the second game for Freed-Hardeman and two batters later, Kaylyn Graham’s line drive cleared the wall in rightcenter for a quick 2-0 FHU advantage.
Cumberland came back in the bottom of the inning with a double by Graham and an RBI single from Torregano.
Kaylyn Graham led off the fourth inning with a solo homer to left and Hayes hit a ball off her shoetops down the leftfield line in the fifth, tipping off the top of the fence and bouncing over for FHU’s third home run of the game and a 4-1 Lions lead.
Cumberland travels to 16th-ranked Campbellsville University for a Noon CT doubleheader this Saturday, beginning an eight-game road swing for the Phoenix.
