MONTGOMERY, AL. - The Lindenwood Softball team (3-1, 0-0 OVC) went 2-0 on the final day of the Stinger Classic by taking down Murray State 11-2 in five innings and defeating Northern Kentucky by a score of 7-1. Emily Geary hit a home run in both games this morning to help the Lions finish their first tournament of the season with a 3-1 record. The pitching for Lindenwood was a bright spot today as well as the pitching staff gave up just one earned run across 12 innings of work. 

GAME 1: Lindenwood 11, Murray State 2 (5)

After giving up a run in the top of the first inning, the Lions scored nine first inning runs to take control of the game early on. Madisen Noll got the offense going by recording a lead off double and Tori Hatton brought in Noll on an RBI double to left field to tie up the score at one. Jolie McMinn would then get Lindenwood's third hit of the inning by singling through the left side of the infield to put runners on the corners with nobody out, and Emily Geary followed McMinn's single with a three run home run to dead center to put the Lions on top 4-1. The offense was not done yet as they put up five more runs behind RBI singles from Dallis Darnell, Teryn Brown, and Kylee Crowder to go up 9-1 after one inning completed. 

The Lions added on to their lead in the bottom of the third inning thanks to Crowder's second RBI of the game on a fielder's choice and Karter Skillman picking up an RBI on a single to the shortstop to take an 11-1 lead after three innings of play. Lucy Pratt threw four innings against the Racers and picked up her first win of the season behind one earned run and one strikeout and Molly Heidrick ended the game in the top of the fifth inning by getting two fly ball outs and a line out to help Lindenwood win their second game of the season. The Lions had 14 hits in the contest with Murray State and were led offensively by Tori Hatton who went 3-4 and Emily Geary who had a team-high three RBI on the home run. 

GAME 2: Lindenwood 7, Northern Kentucky 1

Senior pitcher Avery Wapp started the contest against the Norse and pitched four innings without allowing an earned run and striking out five. Geary blasted her second home run of the day to right field in the bottom of the first inning to put the Lions on top by a score of 2-0 after one inning of play. Lindenwood added on to their lead in the bottom of the second behind a grand slam from Tori Hatton down the left field line to put them up 7-0. NKU responded in the top of the third by scoring on an error, but that was all they would get as Samantha Roulanaitis entered in the top of the fifth inning and went two innings allowing one hit and striking out three batters. Freshman pitcher Ava Risum entered in the top of the seventh inning and protected the 7-1 lead by getting three fly ball outs as the Lions went undefeated in day two of the Stinger Classic. 

Lindenwood will hit the road next weekend for their second tournament of the season as they will travel to Birmingham, Alabama for the Samford University Tournament. The Lions will play a total of five games across three days with the first game being against North Alabama on Friday, February 13 at 12:30 p.m.