6:00 p.m. - Firestone Stadium, Winner's Bracket Final
#5 Lindenwood University-Belleville (3-0) - 1, #1 Briarcliffe College (2-1) - 0
It's been quite a day for Lindenwood-Belleville pitcher Stephanie Holiday. After picking up a win on Monday afternoon over WVU Tech, Holiday saved her best for day two of the 2013 USCAA Softball National Championships at Firestone Stadium in Akron, OH.
Holiday slung a two-hit shutout of two-seed Carlow University in the early afternoon Tuesday, and then stifled top-seeded Briarcliffe with a masterful two-hit shutout in the winner's bracket final Tuesday night. The Lynx held on for a 1-0 win, thanks in large part to Holiday's complete game. But that's not the whole story for the Lynx, who's defense has been spectacular behind their ace on day two.
In 20 chances against Briarcliffe, Lindenwood-Belleville fielders did not commit an error, giving them more than 40 straight chances without a fielding error. The Lynx had commited three mistakes in their first game against WVU Tech.
Four Lindenwood-Belleville players finished with two hits, as Sierra Redmon, Brittney Snow, Marquis Lozoya and Meghan Rumley all reached base at least twice. However, Rumley was the only one to produce a run, doubling in Mackenzie Foiles in the top of the first for a 1-0 lead.
That's where the scoring would end as Briarcliffe stranded their only two runners, one in each the first and the fifth. The Lynx didn't fare much better against Briarcliffe starter Jillian McGovern who scattered ten hits over seven innings. McGovern escaped several jams and stranded eight Lynx baserunners on the night while striking out four.
Lindenwood-Belleville advances to the championship game on Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Firestone Stadium against the loser's bracket winner. Briarcliffe will meet the winner of Ave Maria/Iowa Wesleyan at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday for another shot at meeting the Lynx.
