2016 NFCA Leadoff Classic WebsiteCOLUMBUS, Ga. -- The No. 13-ranked Illinois Wesleyan softball team lost a pair of games on the opening day of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic on Friday, March 11, at the South Commons Complex in Columbus, Georgia.
Losing their first two games in a season for the first time since 1993, the Titans fell by a 10-9 score to SUNY-Oneonta before losing by a 7-0 score to the Division III No. 1-ranked Texas-Tyler, last year's national runner-up.
In the season opener, the Titans banged out 14 hits and led 9-4 after four innings.Senior shortstop
Sam Gudat had three hits while freshman centerfielder
Jillian Runyon, junior first baseman
Sarah Platt and senior catcher
Danielle Smith each had two hits. Senior second baseman
Laura Bonds knocked home three runs and junior
Alie Tarrant added a pair of RBI.
In the second game of the day, the Titans were limited to two hits - singles by Smith and Runyon. The Patriots scored five runs in the sixth with four coming on a grand slam by Kristin Lopez. IWU starter
Jenna Noland held the Patriots in check for 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with a walk.
What's Next?The Titans play No. 10-ranked Berry College (15-3) at 10 a.m. (ET) Saturday before moving into pool play later in the day. The NFCA Classic continues into Sunday where each of three brackets will play title games at 1 p.m. in the last game time of the tournament ... The NFCA Leadoff Classic brings together an elite field of the top Division III programs in the nation. In addition to Texas-Tyler and Berry, also in the field are No. 3 Christopher Newport, No. 6 Texas Lutheran, No. 7 East Texas Baptist, No. 17 Central (Iowa), No. 22 Alma, No. 23 Linfield and No. 24 Kean.
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