COLUMBUS, Ga. –
Cydney Hess tied a Linfield single-game record with three home runs, leading the second-ranked Wildcats to a come-from-behind 14-7 victory over No. 10 Trine (Ind.) in the opening game of the NFCA Leadoff Classic Friday morning at Janice Davis Field.
Immediately following that contest, the Wildcats rallied to defeat unranked St. Benedict (Minn.) 7-6.
GAME 1: Linfield 14, Trine 7
Hess finished with three hits in five trips to the plate while driving home six runs.
Leadoff hitter
Meara Sain also went 3 for 5, had three RBIs and scored twice, part of a 14-hit onslaught by the Wildcats.
Ashley Sutton also contributed a home run for the 'Cats. Linfield was effective on the basepaths with Sain stealing two bases, and
Kaili Saathoff,
Kaia Young,
Tiani Wayton each swiping one bag.
Linfield fell behind 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning before Wildcats starter
Tyler McNeley settled down in the circle to throw 11 strikeouts. The game was not as close as the final score made it appear. The Thunder tacked on four runs in the bottom of the seventh when a tiring McNeley conceded two home runs with the game already out of reach.
McNeley (1-0) ollected the win, going the distance in the circle. She allowed seven hits, five earned runs and two walks while fanning 11 Trine batters.
Karley Trine went 3 for 4 and scored two runs to lead the Thunder at the plate. Trine starter Alexis Michon (0-1) took the loss, lasting three innings before being chased from the game in favor of reliever Debbie Hill. Michon gave up five hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
GAME 2: Linfield 7, College of St. Benedict 6
Tiani Wayton's single to right field tied in the bottom of the sixth inning tied the contest at 6 and
Kaili Saathoff's single to right moments later enabled Wayton to score the eventual winning run.
Claire Seats went 3 for 4 at the plate, including her 27th career home run, to power the Wildcats past the Bennies.
Linfield outhit St. Benedict 12-9 with
Brynn Nelson and
Ashlyn Aven adding a a pair of hits each.
Graduate student
Tyler Warden (1-0) earned the pitching win in a starting role. Warden went 1 2/3 innings in the circle before turning the game over to
Lacey Vasas, who made her Linfield pitching debut in relief.
NEXT
Tournament play continues Saturday with the Wildcats facing Case Western Reserve (Ohio) at noon PST before battling Tufts (Mass.) at 2:30 p.m.
