CLEARWATER, Fla.- Lynn University's softball team split on the first day of the Clearwater Tournament hosted by Eckerd College. Lynn opened the day with a 4-1 win over Eckerd in non-conference action before falling, 7-6, to Lindenwood in extra innings. Katelyn Key earned her first career win in the pitching circle for Lynn tossing a complete game against Eckerd while four Fighting Knights had multi-hit games.
Eckerd (1-1) scored its only run of the game in the first inning when a Single by Sydney Dinelli scored Kara Oberer who had reached on an error to start the game. Lynn tied the game in the top of the fourth when a single by Cherise McEnery scored Jasmine Campos. Sara Vazquez reached on a throwing error by the shortstop and Danielle McNeill scored to take a 2-1 lead.
Lynn added a run when McNeill wacked a triple to deep left field, which scored Campos from second. An inning later McEnery sent the ball over the centerfield fence to add an insurance run for the Blue & White securing the win.
Key pitched seven innings allowing just one unearned run while striking out five and walking just two Tritons. Amber Hay was hit with the loss for EC striking out five batters and walking three allowing seven hits.
In the second game, the Fighting Knights found themselves ahead early when Devin Kochergen hit a single up the middle to score McNeill, who led off the inning with a double to left field. Lindenwood responded in the bottom of the first inning scoring two unearned runs to take a 2-1 lead.
The Lions doubled the lead in the bottom of the second when Kasey Murray walked in two runs with bases loaded. Missy Montgomery came in to relieve Murray with bases loaded and two outs and put the Lions scoring to rest.
With just three outs left in the game, Lynn came back, something the Fighting Knights have been known to do already this season. Leanne Wright led off with a walk and McNeill was struck by a pitch placing runners on first and second with one out. Vazquez singled to center field cutting the deficit to 4-2 when Christina Carvatta crossed the plate pinch running for Wright. With two runners on Kochergen smacked a 0-2 pitch to deep left field and was robbed at the fence by the Lions outfielder. Both base runners tagged up and McNeill scored. A double by Kaci Vassallo would score Vazquez and tying the game 4-all.
Lindenwood was unable to score in the bottom of the seventh sending the game into extra innings. With a runner starting at second due to the international tie-breaker rule, Lynn scored in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Crystal Cano.
The Lions answered back in the bottom of the eighth and Lynn once again took the lead, 6-5, in the top of the ninth but Lindenwood scored on a single by Brooke Tiehes. With runners on second and third and two outs Young hit a ground ball to shortstop but Lynn's Campos was unable to make a play before the runner scored from third, ending the game in Lindenwood's favor.
Despite picking up the loss in her 2014 debut, Montgomery pitched seven innings allowing just three runs, all unearned. Morgan Colvis picked up her first win of the season for the Lions pitching a complete game allowing nine hits and six runs while striking out six Fighting Knights.
McNeill went 2-for-4 with two runs scored while Kochergen did the same at the plate with two RBI.
The Blue & White (3-3) will return to the diamond for the second day of the Clearwater Tournament when they face Colorado Christian at 11 am and Shorter at 1:30 pm. Fans can follow the action live at LynnFightingKnights.com.
