Lindenwood softball had its chance in game on against Findlay to take the first game of the tournament, but an extra inning blast doomed the Lady Lions as they fell 3-2 in Rosemont, Ill. for the first game of the day. The Lady Lions were unable to gain any momentum in game two, as they were ousted 8-0 in five innings against Walsh.
Game One
Starting pitcher Bethany Fountain worked around a leadoff single to start the game, including a strikeout, which would carry the momentum into the bottom of the inning. Adele Linderman forced a one-out walk, then advanced to second on a Caitlyn Touchette groundout. With two outs, Alexandra Newcomb singled down the left field line to bring Linderman home to give the Lady Lions an early 1-0 lead.
Findlay would answer back right away when the Oilers' shortstop Katie Dunphy drilled a deep home run to left field that tied the game at one apiece. After surrendering a single immediately after, Fountain forced a soft line drive to Newcomb at short, who then doubled off the Oiler runner at first to end the top of the second.
The Lady Lions would go 1-2-3 in their half of the second, but Fountain responded with one of her own as she shut down the Findlay offense with a strikeout and a pair of lineouts.
Madeline Bohr ripped a one-out double to put herself in scoring position, but Linderman lined out to right and a Touchette groundout ended the threat.
Fountain again worked around a leadoff walk, after a sacrifice bunt, lineout, and strikeout ended the top of the fourth. Newcomb led off the Lindenwood half with a hard line out, but Alexis Theis reached on an error and Fountain followed with a single, but that was all for Lindenwood.
Fountain got two outs on two pitches in the fifth, but an error on Touchette and a wild pitch gave Findlay a runner on third. However, Fountain induced a groundball to herself to end the top of the inning.
The game headed into the bottom of the seventh with the teams still tied at 1-1. Fountain got the first two outs quickly, a single and two walks gave the Oilers bases loaded and a chance to end the game. However, catcher Rebecca Stocker caught the Findlay baserunner sleeping at third and eventually tagged her out on a rundown. After the Lady Lions couldn't push across a run, the game was headed to extra innings.
Because of the international rule for extra innings that teams begin each frame with a runner on second base, the Oilers had a runner in scoring position with nobody out. Fountain retired the first two hitters of the inning, but the first pitch to the next one was drilled over the fence in left center to give Findlay a 3-1 lead. Lindenwood had Madison Huot come around and score after a steal of third and a throwing error by the catcher, to take advantage of the extra inning rule. However, the top of the order went down 1-2-3 to end the game in losing fashion, 3-2.
Game Two
Brooke Miller worked around a fielding error, a single, and a walk in the bottom of the first before shutting down Walsh's lineup 1-2-3 the next inning. Stocker would hit a single with one out in the third, but that was all for the frame.
Walsh's offense came alive in their half of the third. Three singles and a walk, along with some small ball tactics, gave the Cavaliers a 4-0 advantage. They chased Miller from the game after three hitters in the fourth, and Kaitlyn VanHooser came in for relief. After surrendering a pair of inherited runners to score, a few more Walsh hits ended the game in the fifth when it added two more runs to complete the 8-0 short-game. The Lady Lions went 0-for-10 their last 10 plate appearances.
With both losses, the Lady Lions fall to 2-9 on the season. They will take on Ashland and Wayne State tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., respectively.
