Feb. 21, 2016 LMU vs. Binghamton Box Score
LMU vs. George Washington Box Score
LMU vs. Bethune Cookman Box Score
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CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. - The LMU softball team closed out play at the first of two weekends of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with back-to-back wins, finishing with a 2-3 record over the three days of play.
The two victories, a 4-3, 10 inning win over George Washington Saturday night, and a 6-5 final over Bethune Cookman Sunday afternoon, puts the Lions at 6-4 on the year.
"We concluded tournament play with a good win tonight," said Head Coach Sami Strinz-Ward. "We are really learning what it feels like to compete and we are building confidence by winning close games."
After facing a 9-8 setback to Binghamton in Saturday's opener, the Lions rebounded later that night with a gutsy 10-inning win. LMU broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the 10th on an RBI ground out by Hannah Montalban. Alex Finie began the inning on second base with the international tie-breaker rule in effect. She advanced to third on an Aria Pogni ground out to second and scored on Montalban's ground out to second.
Hannah Bandimere earned the complete-game victory, moving to 3-2 on the year. The freshman struck out eight, scattered just six hits for three earned runs and secured the victory in the 10th with a fielding assist on a ground ball, a strikeout and a ground out to short.
Meghan von Behren and Stephanie Crist had three hits each in the win while Stephanie Maciel went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
"I was really proud of this win last night," Strinz-Ward said. "We had lost two tough one-run games and (this game) started late which could have set us off track. But we rebounded back, fought tooth and nail for 10 innings to earn that come-from-behind win.
"Hannah Bandimere stepped up like a veteran and threw a heck of a game. Every battle like this gives our team more belief in themselves and the work that they've been putting in all year."
In Sunday's tournament finale against Bethune Cookman, Maciel, Crist and Amanda Dirks led the way with two hits apiece as the Lions had nine total players collect at least one hit.
Christ homered in the fourth to help LMU take a 4-2 advantage, while Montalban came up with the go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the sixth that would eventually stand as the game-winning runs.
The Wildcats would rally for one run in the bottom of the sixth, but Rachael Farrington did not allow a runner past first base in the seventh to secure her third win of the year.
"It was great to see Crist and Hannah (Montalban) both hit opposite-field home runs today," said Strinz-Ward. "And Maciel's bat was hot all weekend. I love the confidence she has been exhibiting for us."
The Lions return to campus for classes and training this week, before returning to Cathedral City Feb. 26-28 for the second weekend of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. LMU will face Boise State, Oregon State, Bethune Cookman, Colorado State and Fresno State.
Also on the horizon is the 2016 home opener on Smith Field, scheduled for Tuesday, March 1 . The Lions will host Saint Peter's in a doubleheader beginning at noon.
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