COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Louisiana Christian University softball team had a rough start to day two of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic, falling 13-4 in six innings to the United States Sports University Eagles, but ended on a high note by knocking off the #24 Rio Grande RedStorm, 6-1, Saturday afternoon at the South Commons Softball Complex.
Game 1 – United States Sports University 13, Louisiana Christian 4 (6 innings)
Both teams worked out of jams in the first inning, but Louisiana Christian (8-8) wouldn't be as fortunate in the second inning as USSU (1-10) plated five runs in the frame.
The Wildcats worked themselves back into the game in the top of the third inning. Mariem Medrano started the third by working a walk. She stole second and moved to third as the throw from the catcher went wild.
Maci Baldwin was then hit by a pitch and stole second, giving LCU a big threat.
That threat turned into runs immediately as
Lexi Broussard dropped a base hit into center, scoring Medrano. Baldwin came home on a wild pitch moments later as Broussard also took third on the errant pitch. Broussard came home on
Christina Curtis's sacrifice fly to center, cutting the deficit down to 5-3.
LCU got back within one in the fourth inning.
Kate Daigle started the frame with a base hit to center field.
Carley Koch did her job, laying down the sacrifice bunt which allowed Daigle to move to second. Daigle then came home on Medrano's base hit to center, making it 5-4 Eagles.
A solo home run by USSU in the bottom of the frame extended the lead back to two, but LCU had another big chance to at least get back tied in the top of the sixth as Medrano was hit by a pitch and Baldwin was walked, bringing the leading run to the plate with two away. However, a ground ball ended the inning, stopping the threat.
USSU then found their bats in a big way in the bottom of the inning, getting five hits and two bases loaded walks on its way to a seven-run inning to enact the run rule. The big blast coming to end the game, a walk-off grand slam.
The Wildcat bats struggled in the day's opener, getting just three hits with Medrano, Broussard, and Daigle each getting one.
Medrano was 1-for-2 with a walk, was hit by a pitch, stole two bases, knocked in a run, and scored once herself.
Broussard was 1-for-3 with a walk, a RBI, and a run scored.
Daigle was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored.
Baldwin did not have an official at bat as she drew two walks and was hit by pitch twice. She also stole two bases and scored a run.
Samantha Hill (0-1) took the loss as she started and threw 1.0-plus innings and gave up two hits and three runs, two earned, with two strikeouts and three walks.
Carly Carpenter threw 4.0 innings and gave up five hits and five runs, all earned, walked three and struck out two.
Addison Bailey and
Malee Stanley couldn't stem USSU's tide in the sixth, combining to throw 0.1 innings and allowed three hits and five runs, all earned, with no strikeouts and two walks.
Game 2 – Louisiana Christian 6, #24 Rio Grande 1
The offense came back to life for the Wildcats in the nightcap against #24 Rio Grande (7-4). It started in the second inning as
Madelyn Bourgoyne started the frame with a double to left. Daigle sacrificed her to third and
Naya Soto brought her home with a base hit to left for a 1-0 lead.
Baldwin led off the third by drawing a walk. She moved to second on Broussard's base hit to left.
Isabella Battaglia then dropped down a bunt, sacrificing herself to move them both into scoring position. Curtis did the job with a fly ball that was good enough to allow Baldwin to tag up and score for a 2-0 lead after three complete.
The big inning for the Wildcats was the fourth. With one out, Soto started the rally with a base hit to left. With
Kaitlyn Roberts running for Soto,
Myah Talbert put down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner into scoring position. Medrano then dropped a base hit into left field and took second when the throw went through to home plate. Baldwin drew a walk to load the bases, and then Broussard came through with the big hit, a single to center which scored both Roberts and Medrano.
But then the Wildcats caught the RedStorm sleeping as Baldwin stole home and Broussard took third on a double steal, putting LCU up 5-0.
LCU added an insurance run in the top of the sixth, thanks to a miscue by the URG defense. Soto reached on a fielding error by the RedStorm at third base. She was sacrificed to second by Talbert, moved to third on a wild pitch, and came home on Baldwin's ground ball to shortstop as the RedStorm were unable to turn two, making it 6-0 Wildcats.
Rio Grande got its one run in the bottom of the sixth inning but couldn't string together a rally to threaten the result.
Medrano, Broussard, and Soto all had two hits for the Wildcats in the nightcap. Medrano was 2-for-3 with a walk and scored a run.
Broussard was 2-for-4 with two RBI and stole a base.
Soto was 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored.
Baldwin didn't get a base hit but drew two walks, stole a base, knocked in a run, and scored twice.
Bourgoyne had LCU's lone extra base hit in the game as she went 1-for-4 with a double and scored a run.
Addison Greak (3-2) went the distance in the circle for the Wildcats against the RedStorm, She threw all seven innings and gave up four hits and one run, which was earned, with four strikeouts and two walks.
The Wildcats wrap up their weekend in Columbus, Ga. at the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Sunday as LCU goes for a winning weekend as well as its third win of the Classic against a team either inside the NAIA Preseason Top 25 or received votes in it, taking on #15 Reinhardt. First pitch against the #15 Eagles (5-3) is set for 11 a.m. EST/10 a.m. CST at the South Commons Softball Complex, home of the 2026 NAIA Softball World Series.
