LEBANON, Tenn. - - The Cumberland Softball team opened up their season with a doubleheader split against former conference opponent, UT Southern.

Game one of Friday's series was all Firehawks from the start as UTS jumped out to a lead in the first inning. The second batter of the top of the inning reached first base on a walk and the three hole hitter slapped a single into left field to put runners on first and second with one out.

A fielder's choice put runners on first and second again with two outs but a double into the gap put the Fire Hawks ahead by a run. Cumberland responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning but it wasn't enough offense to keep up with the away side.

Anna Lay started off her season hot with a single and was able to get all the way over to third before another ball was put in play, stealing second and getting over to third base on a passed ball. Ashley Evans was due up next in the lineup and the senior slapped a ball to the shortstop which sent Lay home to even it up at 1-1.

After that point Carley Clinard pitched well, sitting down three straight innings of Firehawk batters without allowing a run. Despite her strong effort though, UTS profited from early season jitters from the Phoenix, putting a run up in the fifth inning, but the sixth innings saw two errors put the away side in advantageous positions.

Cumberland was able to escape the inning allowing just four runs to come through, though the Firehawks pitching was dealing, striking out six in the game, allowing just one run. With game one coming to a close, the Phoenix fought to make their pitcher go over ahead pitches deep, but couldn't find a way past.



Game two started with a lot of action in the top of the first with Tennessee Southern recording three hits that led to two runs. The Firehawks left two stranded. The Phoenix recorded one hit in the first inning but the inning ended short with no runs. The second inning was three up, three down for the Phoenix defense. CU came to the plate and recorded two hits but left a base runner stranded to end the inning with Tennessee Southern leading 2-0. 

UT Southern recorded a walk early in the third inning which was followed by a single that advanced the runner to third with one out. The Phoenix escaped the inning without giving up a run while Southern left two runners on base. The Phoenix started hot at the plate in the bottom of the third with a single and then a stolen base. Ashley Evans singled to third base while Anna Lay advanced to third. Abby Chappell reached after a fielder's choice but Lay was thrown out at home plate. Jacy Hatfield then lined out to left field to end the inning and left two stranded on base. 

The top of the fourth inning was three up, three down for the Phoenix defense. Cumberland started the inning with a strikeout but it was followed by a double off the wall by Karsyn France. Sarah Brogdon reached first by an error which was followed by a single by Karley Daughrity that advanced runners to second and third. Lay walked with the bases loaded for an RBI. Evans followed that up with a sacrifice fly to secure another run making the score 2-2. 

The Phoenix recorded another inning with three straight outs. The Phoenix added some insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth inning after a single from France that scored Hatfield and Chappell. Lay singled to shortstop for an RBI. The Phoenix finished the fifth inning strong with three runs on three hits. 

The Phoenix defense had an error and a walk to start the sixth inning but Maddie Croxford struck out two and produced a ground ball for an out. The Phoenix reached base twice by walk and fielder's choice in the bottom of the sixth but couldn't produce any runs out of it. The Firehawks came alive in the top of the seventh and put up two runs with two outs but the Phoenix finished the game out with a 5-4 victory. 

The Phoenix recorded 10 hits and five runs and Maddie Croxford took the win in the circle.