COLUMBUS, Ga. (Feb. 27-28, 2026) – On Friday and Saturday, the Truett McConnell University softball team traveled to compete in the NFCA NAIA Leadoff Classic, where the Lady Bears finished 2-2 on the weekend after battling through four tough match-ups against RV Freed-Hardeman University (9-6), RV William Carey University (0-16), Lindsey Wilson University (5-6) and Stillman College (9-0). TMU rises to an overall record of 11-6.
 
DAY ONE
GAME ONE
TMU 9 – FHU 6
The Lady Bears struck first in the opening inning as Rylee Walker blasted a solo home run for a 1-0 lead. Freed-Hardeman responded with a three-run double in the second to take control, 4-1. TMU answered in the fourth with a two-out rally. After a walk and a single, Morgan Kacalek delivered an RBI double, and a passed ball trimmed the deficit to 5-3. Freed-Hardeman added another run in the sixth, but the Lady Bears rallied again. With the bases loaded, Reagan Chizek crushed a three-run homer to tie the game at 6-6.
In the seventh, Emme Souter led off with a double and, after a walk, Cassie Boatright sealed the comeback with a three-run walk-off home run, lifting TMU to a 9-6 victory.
 
GAME TWO
TMU 0 – WC 16
TMU struggled to find momentum early, falling behind 3-0 in the first inning after William Carey capitalized on an error. The Crusaders extended their lead with a solo home run in the second to make it 5-0. A big fourth inning put the game out of reach, as William Carey stretched the advantage to 12-0. The Crusaders added four more runs in the fifth. Offensively, the Lady Bears were unable to break through and were held hitless through five innings as William Carey secured the 16-0 win.
 
DAY TWO
GAME THREE
TMU 5 – LWU 6
In game three against Lindsey Wilson College, TMU fell behind 5-0 in the opening inning but battled back with resilience. The Lady Bears broke through in the fourth when Cassie Boatright launched a two-run home run, and later in the frame, Mackenzie Heim delivered a two-RBI single to pull TMU within one at 5-4. In the fifth, Chizek tied the game with an RBI single after Walker reached on an error and stole second. From there, TMU's defense settled in, holding Lindsey Wilson scoreless through the next three innings to force extras.
In the eighth, the Lady Bears were unable to push across a run, while LWU capitalized on a sacrifice fly in the bottom half to secure a 6-5 walk-off win.
 
GAME FOUR
TMU 9 - SC 0
TMU came out aggressive in game four, striking first in the second inning on an RBI single by Emma Skipper to score Grace Folds. The Lady Bears broke it open in the third as Avery Walker singled, a walk set up runners on, and Chizek recorded a double down the left field line to make it 3-0. Back-to-back RBIs from Morgan Kacalek and Heim extended the lead to 5-0. TMU added on in the fourth when Emme Souter singled, stole a base, and later scored on a sacrifice fly by R. Walker. Folds followed with a two-run home run to push the advantage to 8-0. An RBI single from Souter in the fifth stretched the lead to 9-0.
In the circle, Gabby Hughes was dominant, tossing five shutout innings while allowing just two hits and striking out four batters to secure the win.
 
UP NEXT 
TMU is set to host their first Appalachian Athletic Conference match-up of the season with a double-header against Columbia International University on Saturday, March 7. Game one is set for 2:00 p.m. start time.