Well the games after the first round made up for a less than desirable start. The 2nd day included all full games and pretty much either team could have won in each instance, with St. Mary's being eliminated first with a 3-6 loss to RMC, then Tx Lutheran bowing out with a 0-2 loss to Redlands. VA Wesleyan overcame Linfield 8-4 and Trine outlasted Rowan 5-1 in the undefeated games.
Saturday elimination games resulted in a great pitching dual game with RMC breaking through in the top of the 7th with the run to beat Rowan 1-0. Linfield closed out Redlands season with a 6 inning 9-1 defeat.
Then on to the POD playoffs. GREAT games all day on Sunday. RMC handed VWU it's first loss in their past 18 games taking the first game 6-2 with an overwhelming 1st inning 6 run start that VWU's heavy bats just couldn't recover from. VWU came back in the "if" game using a freshman pitcher to finally take down RMC 3-1. Interesting fact is that this was the SEVENTH game these two teams have played against each other just this year, including the 3 in this final playoff bracket.
The other POD final game between Trine and Linfield was a thriller as well, with Trine having to score 3 to tie in the bottom of the the 7th inning, then sealing the win in the 8th for a final 10-9 score to end Linfield's season.
So - we have Virginia Wesleyan University and Trine in the finals. Another interesting fact, is that VWU and TU have played for three of the past four walnut & bronze trophies.
The Marlins won the third of their three titles in 2021 over Texas Lutheran University, adding to their championships in 2017 over then St. John Fisher College and 2018 over current host Illinois Wesleyan. The Thunder finished as the runner-up to Christopher Newport University in 2022 and then claimed the final prize over Salisbury University in 2023.
Should be a great final series. Congratulations to all the young ladies who have played so hard all season to reach the finals.
Saturday elimination games resulted in a great pitching dual game with RMC breaking through in the top of the 7th with the run to beat Rowan 1-0. Linfield closed out Redlands season with a 6 inning 9-1 defeat.
Then on to the POD playoffs. GREAT games all day on Sunday. RMC handed VWU it's first loss in their past 18 games taking the first game 6-2 with an overwhelming 1st inning 6 run start that VWU's heavy bats just couldn't recover from. VWU came back in the "if" game using a freshman pitcher to finally take down RMC 3-1. Interesting fact is that this was the SEVENTH game these two teams have played against each other just this year, including the 3 in this final playoff bracket.
The other POD final game between Trine and Linfield was a thriller as well, with Trine having to score 3 to tie in the bottom of the the 7th inning, then sealing the win in the 8th for a final 10-9 score to end Linfield's season.
So - we have Virginia Wesleyan University and Trine in the finals. Another interesting fact, is that VWU and TU have played for three of the past four walnut & bronze trophies.
The Marlins won the third of their three titles in 2021 over Texas Lutheran University, adding to their championships in 2017 over then St. John Fisher College and 2018 over current host Illinois Wesleyan. The Thunder finished as the runner-up to Christopher Newport University in 2022 and then claimed the final prize over Salisbury University in 2023.
Should be a great final series. Congratulations to all the young ladies who have played so hard all season to reach the finals.