LECOMPTE, La. – Louisiana Christian University's softball team split the two games they played Friday at the Generals Showdown before inclement weather cancelled the second day of the event.
 
The Wildcats (5-2) lost to the NAIA's No. 5-ranked team Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) 4-0 before claiming a 1-0 win over Lindsey Wilson (Ky.).
 
LCU will have a week to prepare for their next games as the Wildcats prepare for four games in Mississippi. The 'Cats visit No. 12-ranked William Carey on Monday, Feb. 20 for a doubleheader, and then play two games at Blue Mountain College the following day.
 
'Cats 1, Lindsey Wilson 0
Desiree Squires' bases-loaded, RBI single that scored Maci Rozas was all the run support freshman pitcher Arlee Darbonne needed as the Wildcats snapped a two-game losing streak Friday.
 
Darbonne tossed a three-hit, complete-game shutout to pick up her first victory as a collegian in Friday's second LCU game. The right-hander from Iowa, La., struck out five batters in the game.
 
The 'Cats put plenty of runners on base during the game but could only plate as Lindsey Wilson pitcher Abigail Cruz kept her team in the game until the very end. LCU managed only five hits, with freshman Jaicee Stott collecting two hits in three at-bats in her first career start.
 
Meanwhile, the Blue Raiders – who finished 2022 ranked in the NAIA's Top 25 – simply had no answer for Darbonne. After Darbonne gave up a single to the game's first batter, the visitors would not hit safely again until there were two outs in the sixth. Darbonne retired seven straight batters between the fourth and sixth innings.
 
The visiting Raiders also got a hit to lead off the seventh, but Darbonne retired the next three batters to earn the shutout.
 
Rozas and Emma Hunt also collected hits for LCU.
 
Freed-Hardeman 4, 'Cats 0
Brooke Ross and Freed-Hardeman's Chloe Winters matched each other's scoreless innings until the top of the sixth when FHU's Cassie Hayes broke the tie with a two-run home run.
 
The visiting Lions also added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh.
 
LCU's Jordan Dauthier had both of her team's hits in Friday's opener. Ross pitched five and two-thirds innings while Miah Broussard allowed only one earned run in relief.

– ­LCU –