Marlins Fight Through Second Day of NFCA Leadoff Classic

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- No. 8 Virginia Wesleyan College saw its winning streak come to an end Saturday with a pair of losses in the NFCA Leadoff Classic, dropping contests to Claremont Mudd Scripps 6-2 in eight innings and 2-1 to Trine University.

Game 1 - 6-2 Claremont Mudd Scripps Victory

The Marlins got on the board first in what was shaping up to be a pitching duel in the final game of pool play. A win would have clinched a spot in the Gold Bracket of the tournament, while a loss would mean the Marlins would have to be the benifactor of some tie-breaking scenarios to make the top bracket.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, Blake Henderson doubled and scored on a Kayla Dost single for a 1-0 lead.

The Athenas tied the contest in the top of the fifth on an RBI double by Abigail Metsch. That would be all the scoring in regulation, forcing an extra frame as the two squads entered the eighth inning.

Several defensive lapses cost the Marlins in the top of the eighth as the Athenas scored five runs, but just one was earned as VWC committed three errors.

The Marlins tried to make a run and prevent their first loss of the tournament, but a Courtney Bogan RBI single would be all Virginia Wesleyan could muster.

Henderson and Dost had two hits each. Kandis Kresinske allowed two hits and three walks in 3 1/3 scoreless innings in the circle to start the game.

Game 2 - 2-1 Trine Victory

The Marlins earned a spot in the eight-team Gold Bracket, garnering the No. 6 seed. The game remained scoreless until the sixth inning when Bogan reached on an infield single. She subsequently stole second, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on a Cassetty Howerin sacrifice fly.

Trine tied the contest in the bottom of the sixth on a Lainey McCue RBI single. Kendra Marshall advanced Trine to the semifinals of the Gold Bracket with an RBI single to right-center in the bottom of the seventh.

The Marlins will move on to the consolation bracket for a rematch with Claremont Mudd Scripps Sunday morning at 9 a.m. The Athenas, the No. 7 seed in the Gold Bracket, lost to No. 2 Texas Lutheran on Saturday night.