COLUMBUS, Ga. – The United States Sports University softball team fell 7-4 to No. 15-ranked Reinhardt and 15-1 to No. 7 Cumberlands (Ky.) during the first day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic at South Commons on Friday.
 
#15 Reinhardt 7, USSU 4
Reinhardt scored two runs in the first inning and added three more in the second to take an early 5-1 lead.
 
USSU (0-9) got on the board in the first when Ahlexus Lackey drove in Hailey Vanbrimmer with an RBI groundout. The Eagles added another run in the fourth when Aralee Beene singled to right field to score Annabeth (AB) Parrish and cut the deficit to 5-2.
 
The Eagles pulled within one in the fifth. Kassidy (Rowdy) New doubled to right field, and Lackey followed with a two-run single to make it 5-4. USSU loaded the bases later in the inning, but Reinhardt escaped the jam to keep the lead.
 
Reinhardt added two insurance runs in the seventh on RBI singles to extend the lead to 7-4.
 
New finished with two hits, while Parrish also recorded two hits for the Eagles. Lackey drove in three runs, and Beene added an RBI as USSU totaled eight hits.
 
Breana Barnes (0-3) went the distance in the circle, allowing seven runs, six earned, on 14 hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
 
#7 Cumberlands (Ky.) 15, USSU 1 (5 Inn.)
USSU took an early lead in the first inning when New walked and later scored on a double to right center by Lackey to make it 1-0.
 
Cumberlands answered with seven runs in the second inning. The Patriots added four runs in the third and four more in the fifth to extend the lead to 15-1.
 
The Eagles recorded six hits in the game. Lackey finished with a double and an RBI, while five other Eagles added a hit.
 
McKynzi Dawson (0-1) took the loss after allowing 10 runs, eight earned, over two innings. Ryleigh Merritt worked the final three innings in relief.
 
Up Next
USSU continues its weekend at the NFCA Leadoff Classic when it plays Louisiana Christian at 2:30 p.m. (ET) and Brenau at 5 p.m. (ET) on Saturday.
 
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