RedHawks Advance to Finals After Extra Inning Win

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The No. 3 Martin Methodist RedHawks (42-10) defeated No. 4 Freed-Hardeman (23-15) by a final score of 2-1 in eight innings of play to advance to the TranSouth Conference Softball Tournament Championship game.

The RedHawks grabbed an early 1-0 lead on an Ashley Altman RBI double in the bottom of the first. In the final inning of regulation, Freed-Hardeman tied the game when pitcher Cassie Smith launched a solo home run to send the game into extra innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Smith fielded a grounder but threw the ball over the first baseman's head to allow the winning run to score from third and give Martin Methodist the 2-1 victory.

Martin Methodist's Liz Adams (14-2) got the complete game win giving up one earned run and six hits and two strikeouts in eight innings pitched. Freed-Hardeman's Smith (11-9) took the loss going seventh and one-third innings and giving up two runs (one earned) on 11 hits and striking out eight.

Becky Grayson, Martin Methodist's second baseman, went 2-for-3 on the day while Freed-Hardeman's April Clayton batted 3-for-4 with a double in the losing effort.

Martin Methodist scored two runs on 11 hits and played errorless ball while Freed-Hardeman managed one run on six hits and committed three errors.

With the win, No. 3 Martin Methodists advances to the TranSouth Conference Championship game to be played Friday at 12:15 p.m. No. 4 Freed-Hardeman falls to the loser's bracket and will face #1 Trevecca today at 4:00 p.m.