MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Lindenwood softball (1-1, OVC) split their first two games of the 2025 season on Friday at the 901 Classic Tournament in Memphis, Tenn. The Lions opened up the year with a 2-1 victory over Hampton before losing to the host school Memphis by a final score of 8-2.

GAME ONE
Lindenwood - 2
Hampton - 1

Lindenwood softball opened up their 2025 season with a 2-1 win over Hampton University at the 901 Classic Tournament hosted by Memphis University. In a defensive battle, Lindenwood only needed three hits to get the season opening win.
 
Avery Wapp (W, 1-0) in her first start of the season got the win on the mound after throwing the first 5.1 innings of the game allowing one run on three hits while striking out four. She was relieved by junior transfer Ryleigh Owens who picked up the save after throwing the final 1.2 innings allowing no hits and getting her first Lindenwood strikeout.
 
Lindenwood's offense only had three hits in the ball-game, including from 2024 All-OVC first team selection Irelynn West who went 1-3 at the plate. Joey Meyer and Izzy Wilcox also had hits in the win. Madisen Noll had the lone RBI of the game for LU in the fifth inning with a sac fly to center field.
 
The Lions left two base runners stranded in the first inning after two walks. Hampton was able to get the scoring underway in the first after an RBI single by Kylie Hill put the Pirates up 1-0.
 
Wapp would allow her only three hits of the game in the first two innings before shutting down the Pirates, allowing just two base runners through the next 3.1 innings both on errors. Both teams committed three errors in the game.
 
In the fifth inning, Wilcox broke up the no-hit bid with a single up the middle followed by a single by West to get runners on the corners with one out. Noll then hit a sac fly to center field to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Hampton's defense in the sixth inning allowed Tori Hatton to reach on an error followed by a throwing error which later scored Hatton as the Lions to a 2-1 lead. Owens would shut down the Pirates' offense to secure the opening win of the season.

GAME TWO
Lindenwood - 2
Memphis - 8

Lindenwood went 1-1 during their opening day at the 901 Classic Tournament with a loss to host school Memphis (2-0, 0-0 AAC) by a final score of 8-2. Lindenwood was held to three hits during their second game while stranding five runners.
 
Owens got her first start in a Lindenwood uniform after throwing the first 3.0 innings of the ball game allowing two runs on five hits while striking out one. Lucy Pratt (L, 0-1) suffered the loss after allowing five runs on two hits while walking four and striking out three in 2.2 innings.
 
Noll, Hatton and Jolie McMinn were the three Lions to have hits in the ball game with McMinn registering the only RBI. Lindenwood's defense was charged with only one error while Memphis had three.
 
After a scoreless first inning, Memphis struck first in the second with an RBI single by McKaylee Polk which scored one. Owens was able to get out of the inning with two runners in scoring position.
 
West started the third inning off getting on base by a fielding error by the shortstop. After stealing second, Mya Bethany was walked and the two advanced on a wild pitch. West would score two batters later off a wild pitch to tie the game. McMinn the delivered and RBI single through the infield giving the Lions the 2-1 advantage.
 
Memphis tied the game up at 2-2 in the bottom half of the third and the game was tied through the top half of the six inning. The Tigers' offense exploded for six runs in the bottom half of the sixth on three hits including a lead-off home run by Zoe Adebayo. Lindenwood would go three-up three-down to end the game.
 
Lindenwood will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 8^th for their final two games of the 901 Classic Tournament starting off with a game against Rust College at 12:30 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.