Lindenwood-Belleville Captures 2013 USCAA Softball National Championship

2:00 p.m. - Firestone Stadium, Championship Game

#6 Lindenwood University-Belleville (4-0) - 6, #7 Ave Maria University (5-2) - 0

AKRON, OH - Stephanie Holiday had herself a week at the 2013 USCAA Softball National Championships at Firestone Stadium in Akron, OH. The tournament MVP wasn't overpowering, but the Lindenwood-Belleville righty was more than effective, even dominant, in winning four games in the process as she helped the Lynx capture the National Championship on Wednesday afternoon.

Lindenwood-Belleville topped seven-seed Ave Maria, 6-0, in the championship game on a beautiful afternoon to earn their first softball championship in the USCAA. Holiday pitched her third straight shutout of the tournament for the Lynx, giving up only nine hits over that span, including two two-hitters.  

Ave Maria, who was playing their second game of the day, and seventh of the tournament, appeared to run out of steam as Holiday kept them off balance and off the bases. The Gyrenes struck out four times and walked only once en route to their second loss of the week. 

Lindenwood-Belleville staked claim to a quick 1-0 lead in the first, loading the bases before a sacrifice fly by Holiday scored leadoff hitter Mackenzie Foiles. The Lynx added to that lead in the second off of Gyrenes starting pitcher Beth Vaccarezza, plating three off of a Marquis Lozoya RBI single and a two-run homer from Meghan Rumley over the left-center field fence.

After two scoreless innings, Lindenwood-Belleville increased their advantage in the fifth. Pinch hitter Samantha Kleekamp doubled home Holiday, who was 2-for-3 at the plate, for a 5-0 lead. Rumley picked up her game-high third RBI in the sixth with a single to make the final tally 6-0.

Ave Maria had five players with a hit, but could not rally enough to plate any runs. The Gyrenes stranded two runners each in the first and the fifth, and a total of seven on the day. Holiday, who struck out only seven batters in four games, pitched to a 1.08 ERA on the week in 26 innings. 

But this final game was not the story of the week for Ave Maria. Playing in perhaps the most exciting games of the week, the Gyrenes used comebacks, timely hitting, and a lot of heart throughout the week. Ave Maria, only a second year program, scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh in their first game to send it to extra innings against Penn State Mont Alto, then had to score three in extras to take an 8-7 win for their first walk-off of the week. After a 12-2 loss to Carlow, the Gyrenes squandered a 9-0 lead over St. Mary of the Woods before topping the Pomeroys 10-9 with a seventh inning run. A 5-2 win over Carlow preceded another walk-off win, this time a three run comeback against Iowa Wesleyan for a 5-4 win. Ave Maria then knocked off top seed Briarcliffe College to advance to the championship game.

The Lynx, who knocked off the one, two, three seeds on their way to the title, went 4-0 during the week. The deepest team on the bench in the tournament, coach Charlie Kennedy used a full complement of players throughout the week as the Lynx picked up two one-run wins during their run, as well as two shutout victories, including the championship game. The Lynx also earned three All-Tournament selections, including MVP Holiday, outfielder Marquis Lozoya and first baseman Meghan Rumley.

2013 USCAA Softball National Championships All-Tournament Team