Softball drops MSC Tournament opener

After taking 3 of 4 in the regular season from Lindsey Wilson, Georgetown entered the rematch in the tournament opener confident they could keep the momentum rolling. The Blue Raiders had other ideas and thanks to strong pitching, Georgetown fell 3-2 in the opener to push the Tigers to the elimination bracket.

The day started off promising as Elle Prewitt worked through the top of the 1st, allowing 1 base hit. She was given a lead in the bottom of the 1st as Kaylyn Barnett led off and wasted no time in crushing the 1st pitch out of the park. Her 4th home run of the year gave the Tigers a 1-0 edge.

After a quiet 2nd inning, Lindsey Wilson broke through in the 3rd. Back-to-back singles started the inning for the Blue Raiders. 2 batters later, a double to left center brought both runs home and put LWC ahead, 2-1. Elle Prewitt bounced back and left 2 runners stranded to keep the score as is. The Tigers got a single from Ainsley Herron in the bottom of the inning but nothing else.

Lindsey Wilson added another run in the top of the 5th off Prewitt. A single, stolen base and double brought a 3rd run home for the Blue Raiders and ended Prewitt's day in the circle. Kinley Lucas came on in relief and had to wiggle out of a bases loaded jam, but induced a pop up to do so and keep the Tigers down just 2. Destiny Wallace led off the bottom of the 5th with a bunt single but was caught trying to steal 2nd and Georgetown could not generate anything else.

Lucas settled down in the top of the 6th and retired the Blue Raiders in order. Georgetown's bats showed some life in the bottom of the inning. Kaylyn Barnett led with a solid single to center. Ainsley Herron followed with a double that sent Barnett to 3rd with no outs. Stevie Shepherd brought Barnett home via a sacrifice fly, cutting the deficit to 3-2. Herron never moved off 2nd as Alanna Pierce and Kinley Lucas popped up in the infield for the final outs of the 6th.

With 1 out in the 7th, Lindsey Wilson got a single to left. Kinley Lucas answered by inducing a ground ball that Alanna Pierce, Stevie Shepherd and Haylee Stansbury turned into a 6-4-3 double play to end the top of the inning. In the bottom of the 7th, Ella Forish drew a leadoff walk. Like Herron in the 6th, Forish would not move as 3 straight pop ups from the Tigers followed to end the game.

Elle Prewitt took the loss and dropped to 7-6 on the year as she went 4+ innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits. Kinley Lucas pitched the final 3 innings, allowing just 1 hit and a HBP. Kaylyn Barnett scored both runs for the Tigers as she, Ainsley Herron, and Destiny Wallace combined for all 6 of Georgetown's hits.

The Tigers now face Campbellsville in an elimination game on Friday with the first pitch slated for 2:30pm ET in Bowling Green.