Six teams remained undefeated after the first day of competition at the NFCA/Schutt Sports Division II Leadoff Classic in Irving, Texas.
Abilene Christian, who has already clinched a spot in the Gold bracket after winning the Bronze bracket in 2003, leads Pool 1 with a 2-0 mark. The Wildcats knocked off Central Missouri State (1-1) 4-1 and Central Oklahoma 13-5. They face No. 8 Wayne State, who dropped two games to CMSU (6-1) and UCO (2-0) on Friday.
Second ranked St. Mary’s narrowly escaped two upset bids in their first day of action at the Leadoff Classic. The Rattlers defeated Southeastern Oklahoma (1-1) 4-0 and rallied to beat New Mexico Highlands (0-2) 2-1. Angelo State split games with Highlands (W, 3-2) and Southeastern Oklahoma (L, 4-0). The Rambelles face St. Mary’s on Saturday while Highlands faces Southeastern Oklahoma.
Emporia State won a pair of 3-0 games, defeating Eastern New Mexico (0-2) and Incarnate Word (1-1). ENMU lost a heartbreaker to Cameron (1-1), 5-4 while the Aggies dropped a 5-0 decision to UIW. ENMU faces UIW while Cameron is set to play Emporia State in Saturday’s action.
Midwestern State and Texas Woman’s both got off to 2-0 starts in Pool 3 action. TWU defeated crossover opponent Wayne State 5-1 while MSU hammered its crossover opponent, Southeastern Oklahoma, 7-0. The Indians defeated St. Edward’s 3-1 in eight innings while TWU took care of the Hilltoppers with a 5-1 win. St. Edward’s faces TAMU-Kingsville on Saturday while TWU and Midwestern State square off for the pool championship.
Defending Leadoff Classic champion Texas A&M-Kingsville rallied from two down in the seventh to defeat Panhandle State (1-1) 7-4, then knocked off Western New Mexico (1-1) 2-0 to clinch a spot in the Gold bracket. WNMU defeated Washburn (0-2) 2-0 behind Ashley Slaugh’s 16-strikeout no-hitter. Panhandle State defeated Washburn 2-1 and will face WNMU on Saturday.
Session One
Texas Woman’s 5, Wayne State 1
Stefani Easter went 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and Teresa Flores delivered three hits as the Pioneers knocked off eighth-ranked Wayne State. Lindsay Russ-Keller scattered five hits over seven innings for TWU.
Abilene Christian 4, Central Oklahoma 1
ACU capitalized on three Broncho errors in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. UCO scored a unearned run in the fifth, but the Wildcats added a pair of runs in the sixth to secure the win.
Cameron 5, Eastern New Mexico 4
Cameron erased a 4-1 deficit in the sixth inning to tie the game then won it in the bottom of the seventh when Ryan Schneberger delivered an RBI single to score Kelsey Wheeler.
Angelo State 3, New Mexico Highlands 2
Angelo State survived a scare, trailing for most of the game before Andrea Payan hit a two run double in the sixth to give the Rambelles a 3-2 lead. The Cowgirls’ Lindsay Johnston broke a scoreless tie in the fourth with a solo shot over the left field fence.
Session Two
Abilene Christian 13, Central Missouri 5 (six innings)
Abilene Christian exploded for 13 runs on 12 hits and took advantage of four Central Missouri errors as the Wildcats improved to 2-0 in Leadoff Classic pool play with a 13-5 win over CMSU. Central scored five runs in the fourth to take a 5-3 lead, but ACU answered in the bottom of the frame with five runs of their own.
Emporia State 3, Eastern New Mexico 0
Eastern New Mexico dropped to 0-2 in pool play with a 3-0 loss to Emporia State. The Hornets scored single runs in the third, fifth and sixth inning as Deb Potter scattered just four hits in a complete game shutout.
Southeastern Oklahoma 4, Angelo State 0
Christina Cearley carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and got four runs in the final two frames as Southeastern Oklahoma upset 13th-ranked Angelo State 4-0. Andra Wingo delivered two RBIs for the Savages, while Beth Farrar and Jenny Dean each connected on a pair of hits.
Session Three
Texas Woman’s 5, St. Edward’s 1
Amanda Chambless threw a complete game as Texas Woman’s moved to 2-0 in pool play with a 5-1 win over St. Edward’s. Teresa Flores paced the Pioneers, going 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Stefani Easter belyed two RBIs and scored a run for TWU, which improved to 12-2 on the season.
Emporia State 3, Incarnate Word 0
Emporia State scored three runs in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie and went on to defeat Incarnate Word 3-0. The Hornets improved to 2-0 in pool play. Debbie Potter threw a one-hit shutout for ESU.
Central Missouri State 6, Wayne State 1
Central Missouri scored four runs in the third inning to cruise to a 6-1 win over eighth ranked Wayne State. Kristy Furrer went 3-for-4 and scored two runs for the Jennies while Lauren Young held the Warriors in check in the circle, allowing only three hits in a complete game performance.
St. Mary’s 2, Southeastern Oklahoma State 0
All-American Kym Kling pitched a complete game shutout, giving up just two hits to lead St. Mary’s to a 2-0 victory over upset-minded Southeastern Oklahoma. Carly Goodnight carried a no-hitter into the fifth, but her first pitch of the inning was sent over the left field wall by Elizabeth Beyer. Beyer later scored an insurance run in the seventh via a Kristin Simmons RBI double.
Session Four
Incarnate Word 5, Cameron 0
Incarnate Word plated solo runs in the first and second innings took advantage of some late inning mishaps by Cameron to defeat the Aggies 5-0. Casey Gross scored two runs for UIW, while Tracey Ballaza and Bitty Binavides each delivered RBI doubles.
Midwestern State 3, St. Edward’s 1 (8 innings)
Midwestern State erupted for three hits in the top of the eighth and plated two runs to defeat St. Edward’s 3-1. Brandi Tynes scored two runs for the Indians, including the go ahead run in the eighth frame. Jenna Deweber pitched the complete game for MSU, giving up just three hits and an unearned run.
Central Oklahoma 2, Wayne State 0
Eighth-ranked Wayne State dropped its third game of the day as Central Oklahoma defeated the Warriors 2-0 to improve to 1-1 in pool play. WSU managed just one hit off of Broncho hurler Falon Barnes. UCO got two runs across the plate in the top of the first inning.
St. Mary’s 2, New Mexico Highlands 1
St. Mary’s once again needed late-inning heroics to win, and once again Kym Kling delivered, this time with an RBI double in the fifth that gave the second-ranked Rattlers a 2-1 lead that they would not relinquish. Highlands threatened, with runners reaching scoring position nine times, but only capitalizing once.
Session Five
Midwestern State 7, Southeastern Oklahoma 0
Brittany Wilson struck out nine in a complete game shutout as Midwestern State moved to 2-0 in pool play with a 7-0 win over Southeastern Oklahoma. Allison Tidwell went 3-for-3 for the Indians, who capitalized with four unearned runs off three Savage errors.
Western New Mexico 2, Washburn 0
The Mustangs opened the Leadoff Classic with a win over Washburn, scoring their only two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Bethany Harris and Tiffany DeVaurs scored on a two-run single from Danielle Harmon. WNMU pitcher Angela Slaugh struck out 16 in a no-hitter.
Texas A&M Kingsville 7, Panhandle State 4 (8 innings)
Texas A&M-Kingsville scored two runs in the seventh inning to tie the score at four, then erupted for a three-run eighth as the Javelinas knocked off Panhandle State 7-4. Ria Hoog scored three runs on a 3-for-5 night at the plate, including two in the last two innings. Brandy Thompson’s sacrifice bunt in the eighth gave TAMUK the lead.
Session Six
Panhandle State 2, Washburn 1
The Aggies scored two runs in the second inning and fought off a late Washburn rally as OPSU defeated the Lady Blues 2-1. Crystal Aguirre went 2-for-3 with a run scored while Ginger Lee delivered an RBI double. Stephanie Sulser scattered five hits over seven innings.
Texas A&M-Kingsville 2, Western New Mexico 0
Rassie Rezza went 2-for-3 with a run scored as Texas A&M took a 2-0 decision over 22nd-ranked Western New Mexico. The Javelinas managed only four hits off of Angela Slaugh, but three came in the first inning. Robyn Jensen pitched a three-hit shutout for TAMUK.