COLUMBUS, Ga. – The first day of the 2015 NFCA NAIA Leadoff Classic is in the books and eight teams completed the day undefeated. Auburn Montgomery, Reinhardt, Lindsey Wilson, LSU-Alexandra, Campbellsville, Thomas, Belhaven and Central Methodist all finished 2-0. The three-day tournament is being contested at South Commons Softball Complex.
Behind the dominance of Cassie Daniels, the defending NAIA champion Warhawks posted 2-0 and 4-0 wins over Bellevue (RV) and Park, respectively. Daniels tossed a pair of two-hit complete-game shutouts, striking out 26 and walking four in 14 innings of work. No. 3 Reinhardt used a five-run sixth-inning comeback in an 8-6 triumph over No. 13 Olivet Nazarene and then scored 12 unanswered runs to topple Friends, 12-2 in five innings.
Fourth-ranked Lindsey Wilson and seventh-ranked LSU-Alexandria used power and pitching in their undefeated day. In a 3-2 victory over No 2 William Carey, Sydney Fourmon provided all the offense with a two-run and a solo home run. Lyndsey Parden tossed a one-hitter with three strikeouts as the Blue Raiders rolled to a 9-0 five-inning victory against No. 21 Oklahoma Baptist. The Generals picked up a pair of run-rule wins against Park, 13-0, and Bellevue (RV), 8-0. Against Park, Marci West tossed a two-hit five-inning shutout and the offense produced 16 hits led by Kaylee Prather, who went 5-for-5 with a double, three RBI and four runs scored. Kaycee Spears twirled a two-hit, six-inning shutout against Bruins with five strikeouts.
Campbellsville’s Neely Quint and Victoria Decker tossed three and two-hit gems in 6-1 and 2-0 wins over Lindenwood-Belleville and Georgia Gwinnett (RV), respectively. Thomas scored 18 runs as its run-ruled Friends in six innings, 11-2, and held off Olivet Nazarene, 7-4.
No. 11 Belhaven cruised to an 8-0 win over Corban (RV) and then edged No. 19 William Woods, 3-1. No. 16 Central Methodist cruised to a pair of wins over William Carey, 8-0 (5) and Oklahoma Baptist, 10-4.
Each team will play their final pool play game tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Following the end of those contests, the teams will be seeded and start bracket play at 4:30 p.m. The top eight programs will play at 4:00 p.m. in the first round of the gold bracket, while the second eight will start at 6:30 p.m. in the silver bracket. The final four squads will take part in the copper bracket beginning at 4:00 p.m.
The tournament concludes on Sunday with first games beginning at 9:00 a.m. and last games at 1:00 p.m.
For links to teams, scores, updates and other pertinent information check out our Tournament Central page.
