COLUMBUS, Ga. – The IU Southeast softball team fell to Cumberlands 7-6 and Freed-Hardeman 5-0 to begin their 2024 campaign.
 
IU Southeast was the home team in game one against Cumberlands. Madison Wathen struck out two batters in the top of the first to kick off the season for IU Southeast.
 
The Grenadiers jumped out in front in the bottom of the first. McKenzie Walters and Josie Lemmons singled to put runners on first and third with no outs. Autumn Oehlstrom followed with an RBI single to give IU Southeast a 1-0 lead. Erin Templeman followed with a two-RBI single to give the Grenadiers a 3-0 advantage.
 
Cassi Roman hit the first IU Southeast home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth to give IU Southeast a 4-0 lead. Cumberlands got the run back in the top of the fifth to make it 4-1.
 
IU Southeast answered in the bottom of the fifth when Autumn Oehlstrom delivered another RBI single to give the Grenadiers a 5-1 lead. The Grenadiers scored another run on an error to take a 6-1 advantage in the fifth inning.
 
An RBI double by Cumberlands made it 6-2 in the sixth. IU Southeast took a four-run lead into the seventh inning.
 
After Madison Wathen struck out the first batter of the seventh, Cumberlands hit a double and drew three straight walks to make it 6-3. After Emma Davis came in to relieve Wathen, the Patriots drew another walk and delivered a bases-clearing double to take a 7-6 lead. Hallie Foley came in for IU Southeast to pick up the final two outs of the inning.
 
Cumberlands would hold IU Southeast scoreless in the seventh to secure a 7-6 victory.
 
IU Southeast outhit Cumberlands eight to four, but the Grenadiers issued nine walks to Patriot hitters. Autumn Oehlstrom had three hits and two RBIs for IU Southeast. Erin Templeman had two hits and two RBIs as well.
 
Freed-Hardeman opened the game against IU Southeast by loading the bases with no outs. Hallie Foley, getting the start in game two for IU Southeast, limited the damage for the Grenadiers by holding Freed-Hardeman to just one run.
 
After two IU Southeast errors put runners on first and third with no outs in the top of the second, Freed-Hardeman used an RBI groundout and a two-RBI double to take a 4-0 lead.
 
Neither team scored again until the seventh when Freed-Hardeman used a squeeze bunt to take a 5-0 lead. Freed-Hardeman would retire the Grenadiers in the seventh to secure the 5-0 win.
 
IU Southeast only managed two hits in the contest. Macie Zink had an infield hit, and Brynlea Bennett had a pinch-hit single. Hallie Foley threw 5.2 innings, allowing six hits and four runs (one earned) while striking out five. Hannah Nunemaker threw the final 1.1 innings for the Grenadiers.
 
IU Southeast plays No. 4 Georgia Gwinnett at 3:30 p.m. and No. 8 Central Methodist at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday in Columbus, Georgia.