ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Lindenwood softball (7-7, 0-0 OVC) picked up two wins on Friday afternoon to start the Lindenwood Invitational. LU started the day with a 3-2 victory over Green Bay (4-7, 0-0 HL) before defeating Valparaiso (6-4, 0-0 MVC) 4-2 to close on Friday's games. Lindenwood now evens their record at 7-7 on the year.
GAME ONE
Lindenwood - 3
Green Bay - 2
The Lions avenged themselves for their earlier loss against Green Bay this week with a 3-2 walk-off win on Friday thanks to
Irelynn West's RBI double in the bottom of the seventh to lift Lindenwood to victory. LU scored three runs on five hits with two errors while the Phoenix scored two runs on eight hits with no errors.
Avery Wapp (W, 3-2) threw a complete game for the Lions tossing 7.0 innings allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits while striking out seven. At the plate, five different Lions recorded a hit including an RBI from West and
Tori Hatton.
Lindenwood did not record their first hit until the fourth inning after a single up the middle by
Jolie McMinn.
Danielle Franz also singled in the inning and was followed by
Madisen Noll who was hit by pitch to load the bases.
Theresa Snaidauf would pinch run for McMinn and would score on a wild pitch to put the Lions up 1-0.
Green Bay would come back and tie the game during the top of the fifth after a groundout to third brought home a run. The Phoenix then took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth after an RBI sac fly to center field brought home a run. Hatton tied the game in the sixth with a no-doubt home run to left field.
After
Anna Sanders singled to start the inning and was moved over by
Nicole Henson with a sac bunt, West delivered a deep shot to right center field which was just out of reach for the diving right-fielder as the Lions would go on to win 3-2 in walk-off fashion.
GAME TWO
Lindenwood - 4
Valparaiso - 2
In the first ever meeting between these two schools, Lindenwood dug-out a 4-2 victory at the Lou Brock Sports Complex to end day one of the Lindenwood Invitational. LU scored four runs on eight hits with no errors while Valparaiso scored two runs on six hits with four errors.
Lindenwood's very own
Ryleigh Owens pitched a complete game allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out a career-high seven batters.
Dallis Darnell went 2-2 at the plate for Lindenwood while Sanders went 1-1 with a team-high two RBI.
After a scoreless four innings, Lindenwood's bats came alive in the bottom of the fifth scoring three runs on two hits. After Henson reached on an error, Hatton singled and McMinn was walked, Franz would be walked to bring in the first run. Sanders then added a two RBI single up the middle to put the Lions ahead 3-0.
The Beacons scored two runs in the top of the sixth off of Owens to cut the lead to 3-2. McMinn added an extra insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 4-2 as the Lions would go on to win after Owens recorded three ground-outs to end the game.
Lindenwood will be back in action on Saturday, March 1st for two more games at the Lindenwood Invitational. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.