Clearwater, Fla.—Lynn University's softball team were defeated by the Colorado Christian Cougars 7-1 and then the Barry UniversityBuccaneers 5-1 in the second day of the Eckerd tournament on Saturday.
Lauren Garceau led Lynn (0-8) with three hits on the day followed by Delaney Brey's 2-for-5 day at the plate. Brey also drew three walks and totaled a .625 on base percentage.
In game one, Colorado Christian scored first in the bottom of the third but the Fighting Knights posted the equalizer in the top of the fourth. Garceau started the frame with a lead-off single then advanced to second on a Kaci Vassallo sac bunt. Kasey Murray then rifled a two-out hit to score Garceau and tie the game.
It was fielding woes again for Lynn that proved to be its Achilles ' heel. In the bottom of the fifth, Colorado Christian scored five two-out unearned runs to go up 6-1. The Cougars then added another in the sixth.
Lynn left seven runners on in the game. Brey went 1-for-1 and Garceau went 3-for-2 with a run scored.
Callie Darlin took the circle versus Colorado Christian and went 4.2 innings, giving up seven hits and allowing only one earned run. Darlin also struck out five and walked one. Missy Montgomery relieved Darlin, going 1.1 innings and allowing only two hits.
The Blue & White faced Sunshine State Conference foe Barry in game two. The Bucs put up one run in the third and two more in the fourth to go up 3-0. In the bottom of the fourth, Vassallo reached second on an infield hit and Lynn then loaded the bases with one out. Carisa Cook registered her first RBI of the season on a single up the middle, scoring Vassallo. The Knights could not plate anymore runs in the inning. After four, Barry held a 3-1 lead.
Barry added one in the fifth and another in the seventh while Lynn threatened in the bottom of the seventh. Marianne Johnson started the inning with a single to left field then went to third on a Brey single up the middle and an Anne Marie Van Casteren walk. But with the bases loaded and no outs, the Fighting Knights could not register a run in the frame.
Cook tallied her first multiple hit game of the season with a 2-for-3 effort while Vassallo went 1-for-4 with a run scored.
Murray started the game at pitcher for Lynn with two innings of work and allowed three hits but walked four batters. Montgomery again entered the game in a relief role and finished the next five innings with two strikeouts and two earned runs.
Lynn struggled to find clutch hits as the Knights went 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
Lynn concludes play in the Eckerd tournament on Sunday, February 12, against West Florida at 9 a.m. Stay connected to LynnFightingKnights.com to access the live stats. Fans can also follow the action on Twitter @LUKnights #LUSB.
