GAINESVILLE, FL. - The Lindenwood Softball team (6-4, 0-0 OVC) went 1-1 on day one of the University of Florida Tournament with a 1-0 win over Longwood and 5-1 loss to Middle Tennessee.
Avery Wapp pitched a gem in the win for the Lions, tossing a complete game shutout and striking out six batters to pick up her team-leading third win of the 2026 season.
GAME 1 - LINDENWOOD 1, LONGWOOD 0
After three quick innings on both sides, the top of the fourth inning saw Longwood load the bases with nobody out after two straight singles and an error by the Lions defense.
Avery Wapp kept her composure in the circle however and retired the next three batters in a row on one fly out and two foul outs to end the threat and kept the game scoreless heading to the bottom of the fourth. Wapp limited the Longwood offense for the remainder of the game, as she allowed two base runners over the next three innings to give the Lions a chance at a walkoff in the bottom of the last inning. After a leadoff walk by
Jolie McMinn in the bottom of the seventh and
Lucy Pratt entering as a pinch runner,
Anna Sanders executed a SAC bunt to advance Pratt to second base to put the winning run in scoring position with one out.
Danielle Franz then followed the Sanders at bat with a single to the shortstop putting more pressure on Longwood. After a flyout made it two outs in the inning and runners on first and second,
Madisen Noll came through by doubling to left center to score Pratt and lifted Lindenwood to their sixth win of the season in walk-off fashion. The Lions recorded four hits in the contest with Franz, McMinn, Noll, and
Teryn Brown each adding a hit to their season total.
GAME 2 - MIDDLE TENNESSEE 5, LINDENWOOD 1
Middle Tennessee grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a two run home run to left field, but Lindenwood responded in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Karter Skillman and
Jolie McMinn started the top of the fourth with back-to-back singles and advanced to second and third on a SAC bunt laid down by
Anna Sanders.
Dallis Darnell delivered for Lindenwood by singling to center field with two outs to drive in the first run of the game for LU. Middle Tennessee responded in the bottom of the fifth inning with a three run home run to left field to take a 5-1 lead and that lead held for the remainder of the game as the Lions would split their first two games of the Florida Tournament.
Madisen Noll collected two more hits in the game against MTSU to lead the Lions with three hits on the day.
Lindenwood will be back for day two of the Florida tournament with two more games tomorrow. The Lions will begin the day taking on Middle Tennessee at 8 a.m. CT before playing the University of Florida at 1 p.m. CT.
