Lady Wolves Finish Fifth at National Tournament

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Lady Wolves continued their time at the NJCAA DII National Tournament with a game against Murray State in the winner's bracket. It took over two days to play the game due to a lengthy weather delay with the Lady Aggies beating the Lady Wolves, 21-16 sending the team to the loser's bracket. The Lady Wolves then had to play Jones in an elimination game with the Bobcats winning 5-3.

MURRAY STATE 21 CO-LIN 16

The Lady Wolves got on the board first with six runs in the top of the first as Ayari VanBlaircom (Daphne, AL) reached on an error to start the game while Brelie Phillips (Conehatta) drew a walk to put two runners on with no outs. Later in the inning, Morgan Chisolm (Madison) reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt allowing VanBlaircom to score and giving the Lady Wolves a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Abby Burnette (Brookhaven) hit a two-RBI double scoring Phillips and Chisolm and increasing the lead to 3-0. Stella Robers (Raymond) then drew a walk to put two runners on with two outs. Brooklyn Reine (Kentwood, LA) then hit a two-RBI triple scoring Burnette and Roberts while an error on the play allowed Reine to score extending the lead to 6-0.

The Lady Aggies then scored two runs in the bottom of the first to make the score, 6-2.

However, the Lady Wolves responded with eight runs in the top of the second as VanBlaircom hit a leadoff single and advanced to third on a double by Brelie Phillips. Emilie Williams (Summit) then hit a sacrifice fly scoring VanBlaircom while Chisolm then hit an RBI-single scoring Phillips pushing the lead to 8-2. Annie Poole (Brookhaven) then crushed a 3-1 pitch over the fence in right center for a two-run home run increasing the lead to 10-2. Burnette then doubled, Roberts singled, and Reine walked to load the bases. Noelle Laiche then smashed a 2-1 pitch over fence in left center for a grand slam extending the lead to 14-2.

The Lady Aggies then scored five in the second, seven in the third, and two in the fourth to take a 16-14 lead over the Lady Wolves. The Lady Wolves responded with two runs in the top of the fifth as VanBlaircom drew a walk with one out to get the offense going. Phillips then demolished the first pitch she saw for a two-run home run, her 23rd of the season giving her the second-most in a single season, and tying the game at 16-16.

The Lady Aggies then scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth with one out on the board and then the weather delayed the game. After a day and a half delay and a change of location to Gardner Webb University in Boiling Spring, North Carolina the game was resumed on Sunday, May 25. In the final two and two-thirds innings of the game, there was only one hit between the two teams while the final out of the game came on a fly ball to dead center that narrowly missed giving Phillips her 24th home run as the Lady Aggies sealed the 21-16 win.

The Lady Wolves totaled 11 hits as Brelie Philliips, Morgan Chisolm, and Abby Burnette had two hits apiece while Ayari VanBlaircom, Annie Poole, Stella Roberts, Brooklyn Reine, and Noelle Laiche had one hit each. Laiche led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with four while Phillips, Poole, Burnette, and Reine had two RBIs apiece with Chisolm and Emilie Williams had one RBI each.

Addison Lindley (Madison) got the start and earned a no-decision while pitching 1.2 innings and allowing five runs, all earned, on five hits with two walks and one strikeout while Lily Crum (Vidalia, LA) pitched 0.2 innings of relief allowing six runs, four earned, on four hits with three walks. Ava Browder (Picayune) took the loss in relief (13-2) while pitching two innings and allowing ten runs, all earned, on ten hits with two walks while Mady McCrory pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief allowing one hit.

JONES 5 CO-LIN 3

The Bobcats got on the board first with a single run in the bottom of the first to take an early 1-0 lead. However, the Lady Wolves responded with a single run in the top of the second as Morgan Chisolm crushed a 1-0 pitch for a leadoff solo home run tying the game at 1-1.

The Lady Wolves then took the lead with a single run in the top of the third as Noelle Laiche singled to start the inning. Ayari VanBlaircom reached on a fielder's choice while Laiche as forced out while Brelie Phillips walked to put two runners on with one out. Later in the inning, Chisolm hit an RBI-single scoring VanBlaircom and giving the Lady Wolves a 2-1 lead.

The Bobcats then used a three-run home run and a solo home run to score four runs in the bottom of the third and take a 5-2 lead.

The Lady Wolves then added a single run in the top of the sixth as Abby Burnette demolished a 0-1 pitch over the fence in left field for a leadoff solo home run cutting the lead down to 5-3. Ahlyana Houston (Summit) then drew a walk in a pinch-hit appearance while Stella Roberts was then re-entered at first base. Brooklyn Reine was then hit-by-pitch while later in the inning Phillips was walked to load the bases with two outs. However, a strikeout left the bases loaded with no additional scoring done for the Lady Wolves.

The Lady Wolves were then retired in order via strikeout, flyout, and groundout to seal the 5-3 win for the Bobcats and ending the season for the Lady Wolves.

The Lady Wolves totaled seven hits as Morgan Chisolm and Abby Burnette had three hits each while Noelle Laiche had one hit. Chisolm led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with two while Burnette had one.

Addison Lindley got the start and took the loss moving to 25-4 overall while pitching two innings and allowing five runs, four earned, on six hits while Lily Crum (Vidalia, LA) pitched four innings of scoreless relief allowing one hit with two walks and six strikeouts.

Co-Lin finishes the season 50-7 overall.