SALEM, Va. – Linfield knew it would take a Herculean effort to defeat top-ranked and top-seeded Virginia Wesleyan in an elimination game on Day 2 of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship Finals Friday at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex.
The Wildcats got that performance in the form of key hits from freshman
McKenna Parmelee, whose double led off a dramatic sixth inning that saw the Wildcats climb from a 2-0 deficit to pull even on
Emily Foytack's single that sent pinch runner
Ally Downing across home plate for the tying run.
Linfield and pitcher
Tyler McNeley then prevented the Marlins from retaking the lead in the bottom of the sixth, stranding two of VWU's game-high 13 base runners.
With Linfield's season hanging in the balance,
Breanna Bartek singled to lead off the top of the seventh.
Meara Sain and
Ashlyn Aven advanced Bartek to third base on consecutive ground outs, bringing Parmelee to the plate. The rookie infielder's single down the right-field line allowed Bartek plenty of time to score the winning run.
McNeley walked VMU's leadoff hitter to begin the bottom of the seventh, putting the potential game-winning run for the Marlins at the plate. But McNeley retired three straight batters from there, two on fly balls to the outfield and another on a ground out to
Lexiss Antle at second base, touching off a modest celebration.
Linfield (43-7) advances to play Simpson (Iowa) Saturday at 11 a.m. EDT (8 a.m. PDT)
Virginia Wesleyan (50-2) which arrived at the Championship Finakls with an air of invincibility and an unblemished 50-0 record, was eliminated after suffering its second defeat in two days. Playing in their home state, the top-ranked Marlins were the clear favorite to win their second national championship in three seasons.
The Wildcats had other ideas. Sain, the Wildcats most consistent hitter, went 2 for 4 as Linfield doubled Virginia Wesleyan's output at the plate, 10-5.
McNeley gave up nine walks to the Marlins, though the junior did work her way out of multiple bases-loaded jams. She improved to 28-5 for the season.
The Wildcats handed Marlins starting pitcher Emma Adams her first loss of the season. The NFCA first team All-American slipped to 23-1 after giving up nine hits and all three runs to the 'Cats in 6 1/3 innings.
IN OTHER GAMES FRIDAY
Redlands defeated Rowan 10-2 in five innings and Trine knocked off Simpson 9-1 in five innings. Belhaven plays an elimination game with Mount Union in the late game Friday night.
