Games #5-9
Chattanooga Classic Schedule (Feb. 14-16 | Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Feb. 14 vs. North Alabama (11:30 a.m. CT) | Live Stats
Feb. 14 at Chattanooga (4:30 p.m. CT) | Live Stats
Feb. 15 at Chattanooga (11:30 a.m. CT) | Live Stats
Feb. 15 vs. North Alabama (4:30 p.m. CT) | Live Stats
Feb. 16 at Chattanooga (11:00 a.m. CT) | Live Stats

Game Information:
Dates: Friday, Feb. 14 - Sunday, Feb. 16
Location: Chattanooga, Tenn.
Venue: Frost Stadium

On-Tap
Lindenwood softball will head to their second pre-season tournament of the season at the Chattanooga Classic where they will play five total games. LU starts the tournament off with two games on Friday, Feb. 14th against North Alabama and the host school Chattanooga. They will also play two games on Saturday and one on Sunday against Chattanooga.

Coming into the season, Lindenwood enters their third Division I season in the Ohio Valley Conference led by fourth year head coach Erin Brown. Brown has led the Lions to the OVC Tournament in two consecutive seasons and is coming off a 25-25 record in 2024.

The Lions return 14 players from last year's squad while adding nine newcomers. This group is led by 2024 All-OVC First Team selection Irelynn West who has tabbed as an OVC Preseason Player to Watch in 2025.

Last Weekend Recap
Lindenwood split their first four games of the season last weekend finishing with a 2-2 record. The Lions picked up wins over Hampton University and Rust College while falling to the host school Memphis in two games.

On the mound, Avery Wapp finished with a 1-1 record and a 2.80 ERA to start the season. She started two games throwing a total of 10.0 innings while allowing six runs (four earned) on nine hits while striking out a team-high nine. Ryleigh Owens also finished with a 2.33 ERA in three appearances allowing two runs on five hits in her Lindenwood debut.

At the plate, Lindenwood was led by Tori Hatton who went 3-9 including a two-run home run against Memphis. Hatton started all four games for the Lions while adding two RBI. Madisen Noll also had three hits while hitting .300 for the weekend. She led the team with four RBI while being walked twice and hit by pitch twice.

Against Rust College, Lindenwood tied a program record (NCAA era) with 21 runs scored. They also were walked 13 times in that game which also was a new program record in a single game. Twelve different Lions had a hit in the win including two from Danielle Franz who also added two RBI.

OVC Preseason Poll
The Redhawks of Southeast Missouri State were selected as the 2025 Preseason favorite, garnering nine first-place votes and finishing with 152 points after claiming the OVC Tournament Championship last season. They were followed by Southern Indiana who received six first-place votes (140 points) and 2024 OVC Regular Season Champion Eastern Illinois with five first-place votes (139 points).

Tennessee State follows the top three ranking fourth with 107 points followed by Tennessee Tech (82), Lindenwood (80), UT Martin (74), SIUE (73), Morehead State (30) and Western Illinois (23). There are a total of 27 conference games this season with each team playing the other schools three times.

2025Statistical Leaders
Batting Average: Tori Hatton (.333)
Hits: Hatton / Madisen Noll (3)
RBI: Noll (4)
ERA: Avery Wapp (2.80)
Strikeouts: Avery Wapp (9)

Head Coach Erin Brown
Erin Brown is entering her fourth season as the head coach of the Lindenwood softball team in 2025. 

Brown led the Lions to an OVC Tournament appearance after guiding Lindenwood to a 25-25 record. Lindenwood had an impressive home record in 2024 going 12-5 at Lou Brock Sports Complex. Irelynn West earned First Team All-conference honors while Amanda Weyh earned Second Team. Under Brown, the Lions swept cross-town rivals Saint Louis in two games during a home-and-home series. The Lions went 13-14 in OVC play. Brown also coached five CSC Academic All-District players.

In 2023, the Lions went 16-32, including an 8-15 mark against OVC competition. Lindenwood finished with a winning record at home (12-10) and swept eventual conference champion Eastern Illinois late in the year at Lou Brock Sports Complex. Irelynn West and Dallis Darnell earned all-conference honors with West being a second-team selection and Darnell being named to the all-newcomer team. 

Up Next
Lindenwood heads out to the Bluegrass State next weekend for the Murray State Tournament starting on Friday, Feb. 21st. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.