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COLUMBIA, Ky. – Second-seeded Lindsey Wilson softball fell to No. 3 seed Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) on Monday in the 2018 NAIA Softball Opening Round Tournament -- Columbia (Ky.) Bracket at Marilyn D. Sparks Park.

The Blue Raiders (39-15) were outhit by the Lions (32-13) 12-3 in the game. Alaeni Ray, Kalli Harris and Amber Hancock each had a hit for Lindsey Wilson.

Caitlyn Carter began the game for the Lions with a single to center field. After an Emily Bombard sacrifice bunt, Makenzie Price hit a two-run home run to give Freed-Hardeman a 2-0 lead. Lyric Houston reached on a one-out walk and Ray reached on an error to put runners on first and second. After Sydney Fourman was hit by a pitch, Cassie Matlock reached on a fielder's choice that scored a run to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Harris led off the Lindsey Wilson second reaching on an error by the Freed-Hardeman shortstop then advanced to second on a groundout. Harris later came around to score on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2-2. Back-to-back singles by the Lions in the top of the third put runners on first and second. Bombard advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt and Prince hit a sacrifice fly to give Freed-Hardeman a 3-2 lead. The Lions would add increase their lead to 4-2 on a Kaylyn Graham RBI-single.

Hannah Wright increased the Freed-Hardeman lead to 5-2 with a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning. Two singles and an error loaded the bases before a bases-loaded walk increased the Lion lead to 6-2. A sacrifice fly by Prince increased the Freed-Hardeman lead to 7-2.

Harris led off the bottom of the seventh with a single up the middle and came around to score on a Hancock double to deep-right field to trim the deficit to 7-3. Taylor Slade drops to 5-5 on the season pitching 3-1/3 innings allowing five runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.

Prince improved to 16-6 pitching her 15th complete game of the season giving up only one earned run on three hits with four strikeouts. Carter led the way for Freed-Hardeman with four hits while Prince drove in a game-high four runs.

Lindsey Wilson falls to the elimination bracket later today at 4 p.m. CT while Freed-Hardeman advances to the winner's bracket final tonight at 6:30 p.m. CT.