ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Lindenwood softball suffered disappointment in their home opener, losing 2-1 against Green Bay on February 25, 2025. The Lions struggled offensively, mustering only three hits throughout the game, including two triples.
Quick statistics from the game highlight the challenges faced by Lindenwood. Starting pitcher Samantha Roulanaitis took the loss, with just two innings pitched allowing two runs on two hits, alongside two strikeouts. Relief pitchers Ryleigh Owens and Avery Wapp contributed but the offense couldn’t find their rhythm.
The match kicked off with both teams going three-up and three-down until the second inning when all three runs of the game were scored. Roulanaitis walked one and permitted a double before throwing a wild pitch, which allowed Green Bay to take the lead. Jenna Redder followed with a single, bringing home the Phoenix's second run.
Lindenwood's offense responded quickly, scoring their only run of the game shortly after. With Irelynn West reaching first and Jolie McMinn making contact, Danielle Franz stepped up and brought McMinn home courtesy of her RBI triple. Unfortunately, the Lions left McMinn stranded at third, preventing them from capitalizing on the momentum.
Despite attempts to rally, the Lions couldn’t score again. They had another opportunity when Madisen Noll hit her own triple in the bottom of the third, but the momentum fizzled as the subsequent batters could not drive her home. After struggling offensively for the final four innings, the team ended the game on this low note.
On the pitching side, Wapp, who had been absent during the last weekend's games, pitched strongly for 1.2 innings allowing only one hit and recording five strikeouts, demonstrating some resilience from the mound.
Lindenwood will look to bounce back, returning to action against Northern Illinois with double-header games planned, starting at 2:00 p.m. CT on February 26.
Meanwhile, Southeast Missouri's team (4-4) faced their own obstacles at the Frost Classic held on February 25, 2025. They fell short, losing two tightly contested one-run games. The Redhawks lost to Illinois State narrowly by 5-4, and were defeated 1-0 by the tournament host, Chattanooga.
During the game against Illinois State, SEMO let opportunities slip away. They held onto a 3-2 lead heading to the bottom of the sixth, but Illinois State turned the tables, scoring three runs with two outs. Tatum Wolford, with an RBI single, helped push the Redbirds to victory, before Hannah Meshnick closed out the game with a save, helping her team escape the tight situation.
SEMO's pitching was commendable, highlighted by Maddie Carney's performance, who worked five and-two-thirds innings, allowing only one run on four hits. The team displayed resilience with hits from key players Gracie Luna and Sydney Melton, who both recorded two hits against Illinois State, but it wasn’t enough to secure them the wins.
The rubber match against UTC saw SEMO's struggles continue, with both teams locked at 0-0 until the sixth inning. Chattanooga finally broke the deadlock when Kailey Snell scored, aided by some wild pitches from SEMO’s defense. Delaney Kell suffered the loss as SEMO just fell short, unable to respond to Chattanooga's late game scoring.
With this tournament experience, SEMO will reassess and regroup as they prepare for their next matches scheduled at the Best on the Bayou Tournament from February 28 through March 2. Both teams aim to refine their strategies and strengthen their performance to gain successful results as the season progresses.
Wishing for improved outcomes, both Lindenwood and Southeast Missouri are poised to turn their early setbacks around. Their next games will surely be watched as hopeful fans cheer on from the stands.