Wheaton advances to gold bracket at NFCA Leadoff Classic

March 10, 2007

PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL- Behind a 12-1, six-inning victory over Saint Mary's University of Minnesota early on Saturday, the Wheaton College softball team qualified for the gold bracket at the third National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III Leadoff Classic, a field that incorporates the eight teams with the top pool-play records among the classic's 24 squads. The Lyons fell to 2-2 overall following a 13-7 slugfest loss to Willamette University of Oregon in the nightcap at Frank Brown Park.

In the opener, Wheaton tallied nine runs during the fifth and sixth innings to break open a close game, and freshman Andrea Bagley (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) tossed a complete-game five-hitter in her collegiate debut. With the Lyons playing the visiting team, senior Nicole Lachance (Rochester, NH/Spaulding) launched the first pitch of the game beyond the right field fence to put the Blue and White on top for good.

Wheaton held a 3-1 edge heading into the fifth, when sophomore Brady Benton (Concord, NH/Concord) highlighted a three-run outburst with two down by smacking a line-drive, two-run homer over the left field fence. Bagley escaped a two-on, none-out jam unscathed in the bottom half, and the Lyon offense rewarded her with six more runs in the sixth. Four of the runs were unearned, as sophomore Katelynn Hanewich's (Bradenton, FL/Lakewood Ranch) two-run single was the big blow of the stanza.

In all, eight of Wheaton's runs were plated with two down. Benton went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs, finishing a triple shy of the cycle, freshman Merry MacDonald (Braintree, MA/Braintree) was 2-for-2 with three runs and a double, while Lachance went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Bagley went all six innings, striking out four and walking two. She yielded the lone Cardinal run on freshman Jenna Johnson's (Menomonie, WI) second-inning solo shot. For 0-3 Saint Mary's, junior Megan Wallisch (Loveland, CO) was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs on nine hits in 4.2 innings.

During Wheaton's contest against Willamette, the Lyons trimmed a 9-3 deficit to two heading into the sixth before the Bearcats pulled away. Junior Geneva Hale (Shoreline, WA) hit a grand slam in the top of the first for Willamette before the Blue and White made it 4-2 later in the frame on a Benton two-out RBI double and an unearned run. The Bearcats added one run in the third and two in fourth, with all three runs coming on dingers, before Hale homered again in the fifth to make it 9-3. Each of Willamette's first nine runs came via the long ball.

The Lyons strung together a rally in the bottom of the fifth, plating four runs on five hits. MacDonald slugged her first collegiate home run, a three-run shot well beyond the fence in straightaway center field, to pull Wheaton within 9-6, and junior Meredith Gorton (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) drew a based-loaded walk with two down to make it 9-7. However, Willamette added a pair of runs in each the sixth and seventh to pull away.

MacDonald also ripped a double while going 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI, and Benton finished 2-for-4 with two runs. Junior Audrey Poulton (Charlestown, RI/Chariho Regional) was saddled with the loss after yielding four runs in the first two innings. In all, 6-3 Willamette banged out 18 hits, including nine for extra bases. Hale finished as the top hitter, going 2-for-2 with two runs, six RBI and three walks. Freshman Leighann Auer (Independence, OR) picked up the win after allowing six runs with five strikeouts and four walks in four innings.

Wheaton hits the field at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow in the consolation portion of the gold bracket, where the Lyons face Trinity University of Texas for the second time in three days. The Blue and White finishes its run at the Leadoff Classic against either Methodist College or Mount Union College at either 10:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 3/20/07.
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