PEORIA, Ill. - The Lindenwood Softball team (29-23, 17-10 OVC) advanced to day three of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament on Thursday night with a 2-0 shutout win over UT Martin behind a complete game from
Avery Wapp. The Senior Pitcher from Bloomington, Ill allowed four hits all game and recorded big strikeouts throughout the game to help the Lions advance in the tournament.
In the top of the first inning,
Anna Sanders,
Tori Hatton, and
Jolie McMinn each picked up a one-out single to load the bases for
Kylee Crowder. Crowder then delivered with Lindenwood's fourth consecutive hit of the inning on a two run-double to left center to give the Lions a 2-0 lead early in the contest. Wapp was able to retire the Skyhawks in order and held a perfect game through three innings, but UTM was finally able to get to her to begin the bottom of the fourth. UT Martin started off the inning with a one-out single, followed by a walk and another single later in the inning to load the bases with one out. However, Wapp was able to escape the bases loaded situation by striking out back-to-back batters to end the fourth inning and to keep the lead in tact for the Lions with three innings to go.
The Skyhawks threatened in both the sixth and seventh innings as well, but Wapp maintained her composure and stranded a total of four base runners across the final two innings with the final out resulting in a strikeout in each inning to lift the Lions to their 29th overall win of the season. The Senior Pitcher finished the contest with eight strikeouts, which was her second most in a game this season, and tossed her third complete game of 2026 to keep Lindenwood's season alive. Offensively, McMinn and Sanders led the Lions with two hits each, while
Karter Skillman and
Dallis Darnell also chipped in with one single each to put LU's hit total at eight for the game.
The Lions will now prepare for tomorrow where they will have to win two games in order to advance to Saturday's OVC championship game. Lindenwood will play the winner of SEMO and Southern Indiana tomorrow at 11 a.m. with the winner advancing to play the loser of Eastern Illinois and SIUE at 4:30 p.m.
