2:00 p.m. - Firestone Stadium, Second Round
#6 Lindenwood University-Belleville - 5, #3 WVU Tech - 4
Lindenwood University-Belleville squandered a four-run lead, but would go on to beat three-seed WVU Tech 5-4 in second round action of the 2013 USCAA Softball National Championships. The sixth-seeded Lynx advance to the winner's bracket semifinals on Tuesday at 12:00 p.m. where they will face the winner of Carlow and Ave Maria.
Lindenwood jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first following a lead-off walk and two consecutive singles to load the bases. Samantha Pacheco, who finished with a game-high four RBIs, then hit a line drive to centerfield, and two runs would score on a fielding error. WVU Tech would stop the rally there, but Lindenwood would continue to add to their lead in the third.
With two outs, Meghan Rumley singled and Pacheco gave the Lynx a 4-0 lead a long home run over the left field fence, the first of the tournament. WVU Tech would hold Lindenwood in check the rest of the way, at least until the seventh inning, as they made their comeback.
The Golden Bears rallied for one run in each of the third and fourth innings, but made their biggest impact in the fifth. Genna Trippett doubled, and after being sacrificed to third, would score on a Megan Blythe single. Following another single and a fly out, Stephanie Nickell smacked an RBI single to tie the score at 4-4.
After a scoreless sixth, Lindenwood would jump ahead again as Marquis Lozoya singled and stole second. Pacheco singled home the go ahead run, and Lynx pitcher Stephanie Holiday put away WVU Tech's four-five-six batters in order to seal the win. Holiday would finish the complete game with only one strikeout, while giving up 10 hits throughout, but was effective in limiting the Golden Bears' scoring chances.
Taylor Norman took the loss for the Golden Bears, going three innings in relief. WVU Tech will face Penn State Mont Alto at 6:00 p.m. in the loser's bracket at the Firestone Stadium Pony Field.
