Eighth-ranked Chapman knocked off top-ranked Ithaca Friday afternoon to emerge 2-0 following the opening day of the 2007 NFCA Leadoff Classic at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach, Fla.
The Panthers trumped the Bombers, crowned No. 1 nationally Wednesday in the NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll, thanks to a complete-game, six-hit shutout from Maggie Wilder in the 1-0 victory.
After battling scoreless with Ithaca through the first four innings, Chapman claimed the game’s only run as Melanie Villarroel led off with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. She scored one batter later as Nicole Cade misplayed a ball hit back to the circle.
The game followed a 2-1 win over Alma in which Jennifer Winford allowed a hit on four hits with six strikeouts, and Kathleen Ramseyer went 1-for-4 with an RBI.
The Panthers jumped on top in the second as Kay McDonald issued a bases-loaded walk to Erin Dudzinski that plated SheaLynn Slover who was hit by a pitch.
No. 9 Louisiana College also posted a perfect 2-0 mark on the opening day. Both of the team’s wins came via the run-rule, as it blanked La Verne in the opener 8-0 before pounding second-ranked Muskingum 14-1 in the nightcap.
In the opener Louisiana College got a pair of hits from Lacee Chruma and three RBIs by Erica Harwell. The Lady Wildcats padded a 1-0 lead with three second-inning runs against La Verne as Allison Frye doubled to drive in a pair and Harwell lifted a sacrifice fly.
McCaslin Carson had all the support she needed as she hurled a one-hit shutout and struck out four as she moved to 7-1 on the year.
Against the second-ranked Muskies, Katherine Horton and Chruma each collected three hits and a pair of RBIs, and Yuliana January notched a pair of hits and drove in three runs.
Jodi Montagnino picked up the win to move to 5-0 on the season, allowing a Kari Hoying home run on five hits with a pair of strikeouts.
LC opened with a 2-0 lead, only to see Muskingum cut it in half with a run in the bottom of the second. The Lady Cats then exploded for three runs in the third before exploding with a six-run fourth that was sparked by RBI singles from Horton and Chruma.
In other pool-play action, Trinity’s Erin Mulvey had a ground ball misplayed by the Wheaton second baseman to cap a three-run seventh inning that rallied the squad to a 6-5 win and a perfect 2-0 mark on the tournament’s opening day.
Methodist picked up wins over Mount Union and Webster to sit undefeated atop Pool 1, while Babson topped Pool 2 with an 8-3 win over Augustana and a 4-1 triumph over Plattsburgh State. Willamette downed William Paterson 9-1 before trumping Wisconsin-Eau Claire 8-4 to move to 2-0 in Pool 6.
The NFCA Division III Leadoff Classic concludes pool play beginning at 10 a.m. CST, while bracket play kicks off at 5 p.m. CST.
