TUCSON, Ariz. - Abilene Christian's 22nd-ranked softball team dropped a pair of close games Friday during the first day of competition at the NFCA D-II Leadoff Classic here at the Lincoln Park Complex.
The Wildcats lost their first game to Grand Canyon, 5-2, and their second to Nova Southeastern, 5-3. ACU (5-5) will now look to even its tournament record Saturday against doubleheader opponents Regis and New Haven.
Nova scored all five of its runs through the first three innings vs. ACU starter
Shelby Hall on eight hits. The Sharks first three batters reached base during a two-run first, but the Wildcats came right back to tie the score at 2-2 in their half of the second on RBI from freshman
Cara Hoover and senior
Keanna Winkfield.
Hoover's single plated
Lyndi Smith and Winkfield's fielder's choice brought in
Heather Peacock right before Hoover got caught between second and third for the final out.
Nova unfortunately broke the tie soon afterward on a RBI double by Melanie Spicola and then received two insurance runs in the third as RBI singles by Dani Milan and Chelsea Emery chased Hall from the game.
Senior
Caitlyn Crain pitched the rest of the way for ACU, surrendering just one walk while striking out three over the final 3.1 innings pitched.
The Wildcats added a run in the sixth with
Courtney Flanary scoring on Peacock's RBI single, but were retired by starter Jennie Von Doellen in order in the seventh. Von Doellen punched out three and scattered seven hits in her complete-game effort.
Grand Canyon also jumped out to an early lead as they scored five times on five hits vs. starter
Peyton Mosley by the end of the second inning. The Antelopes scored twice in the first on two wild pitches and then scored three unearned runs in the second, two of which came home on a double by Kelsey Barak.
Mosley wouldn't allow a runner past second base the rest of the way, but the ACU offense could't quite mount a proper comeback on her behalf despite ripping 11 hits. The Wildcats left 12 runners stranded, including three in the first, plus two in scoring position in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
The Wildcats broke Stephanie Pesqueira's bid for a shutout in the fifth on
Lyndi Smith's RBI double to left center that scored Flanary. But Smith got caught trying to stretch for third for the second out and then pinch hitter
Adelaid Oun grounded out to first two batters later with runners at the corners.
Flanary scored again in the seventh following a leadoff double, finishing her game 3 for 4.
Buckley and Winkfield also had two hits for the Wildcats.
Pesqueira finished with six strikeouts and one walk.
