Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Clearwater, Fla. – Playing in their first double header of the 2015 season, Lynn University's softball team won the morning bout in walk off fashion over Harding before losing to Colorado Christian in the matinee game. After the split the Fighting Knights are 1-2.
Offensively the squad was led by Leanne Wright, who went 4-7 with a homerun. Kaci Vassallo, Cherise McEnery and Madison White all logged RBI's while four batters hit .400 or better. All three Fighting Knights pitchers made appearances, recording more strikeouts (13) then hits (nine) as a unit.
Making her first start in the circle, Francais Olexa had a rough opening frame allowing three runs. Despite giving up a two-run shot Olexa was able to calm down and record her first career strikeout to end Colorado Christian's first at bat. Cherise McEnery was able to cut the deficit to two, 3-1, in the bottom of the inning with a RBI double down the right field line to bring Kaci Vassallo home.
The freshman southpaw had her best inning of the day in the second, where she retired the side with three consecutive strikeouts.
Harding was able to extend the lead back to three in the top of the fourth, but a Vassallo single up the middle with two outs in the bottom of the inning allowed Sara Vazquez to score making it a two-run game again.
Lynn put another run on the scoreboard in the fifth inning, when White singled up the middle to bring Manya Lopez from second base to home.
McEnery continued her impressive offensive performance in the fifth, when the senior slammed her first home run of the 2015 campaign to knot the score at 4-4.
In the bottom of the seventh McEnery was called upon yet again, this time with bases loaded. McEnery took one for the team, getting hit by a pitch to bring in the game-winning run.
In the first win Lynn posted 17 hits, two shy of cracking the top-five list for most hits by a team in softball history.
McEnery, Vassallo and Wright all posted three hits, with McEnery providing three RBI as well. Sara Vazquez and Lopez also provided multiple hits while every player who batted recorded a hit in the win.
Olexa recorded the victory in her first career-start, fanning seven batters in as many innings.
Coming off an offensive victory, Lynn entered a defensive batter with Colorado Christian as both sides only managed three hits. The Fighting Knights had an opportunity to take the lead in the first frame, but could not get Olexa home after she made it to third with one out. In their following at bat the Cougars took the lead and did not trail the remainder of the contest.
Lynn managed to tie the score in the fourth inning after Wright blasted a home run over center field. However the score would not remain tied for long as Colorado Christian scored two runs in the fifth.
The Fighting Knights put together one more rally in the sixth inning, but left two runners on base. Vassallo started the attack by getting hit by a pitch to advance to first. An error by CCU on a fielder's choice put Vassallo on third and Amanda Casillas on first.
Along with Wright, Campos and White also recorded hits. Despite getting tagged with the loss sophomore Katelyn Key looked impressive in her first start of 2015, throwing five innings striking out four while allowing three runs. Missy Montgomery came in for two innings of relief, allowing no hits with a pair of strikeouts.
The Fighting Knights conclude play at the Invitation on Sunday when they take on Eckerd at 9 am and Chadron State at 11:30 am. Fans can follow the action live at LynnFightingKnights.com. Don't forget to 'Like' us on Facebook and follow @Lynn_Knights on Twitter and Instagram.