FORT COLLINS, Colo., -- The Loyola Marymount softball team closed out its 2019 season at the NISC Championships on Saturday, as the team fell to UT Arlington 6-3 and Iowa State 5-2.
The Lions opened up day two of the tournament to UT Arlington, where the Lions battled back at the end, but it wasn't enough to win the game.
Molly Grumbo opened up the game with a double to left field off of the first pitch of the game, she then advanced to third after
Maddison Flores hit a sacrifice bunt.
Delanie Wisz hit a single up the middle, sending Grumbo home and putting the Lions on the board to close out the top of the first inning.
The Mavericks responded in the bottom of the first, putting one run on the board. UTA maintained momentum the rest of the game, as they put one run up in the second, the fifth and then scored three in the bottom of the sixth, taking a 6-1 lead.
LMU gained some momentum in the top of the seventh, as
Desiree Moreno opened up the inning with a single, Jackson came in to pinch run.
Kaley Robinson reached first base on a fielder's choice, as Jackson was out at second. Grumbo singled to left center, advancing Robinson to second.
Maddison Flores doubled down the line, advancing Robinson home. A single up the middle from
Andrea Gonzalez advanced Grumbo home, giving the Lions their third run of the game, but closed out the game down 6-3.
Both the Lions and the Mavericks had nine hits. Grumbo went 3-3 at the plate,
Megan Dedrick went 2-2, while Flores and Moreno went 1-3.
Hannah Bandimere pitched 4.0 innings. The senior allowed five hits, two runs and had one strikeout.
Samantha Manti pitched 1.2 innings and gave up four runs.
Mallory Eckroth made her first post-season appearance, pitching .1 innings, allowing zero hits and zero runs.
The Lions' loss forced the team to play an elimination game against Iowa State. The Cyclones opened up the first inning with a run, taking a 1-0 lead until the Lions tied things up in the bottom of the third, as
Megan Martin opened up the inning with her second post-season homerun.
Tied at 1-1 headed into the bottom of the fifth, the Lions put another run on the board to take the lead.
Sierra Marshall advanced to first base after being hit by the pitch, she then advanced to third after Grumbo hit a double to right field.
Marshall put another run on the board after Flores singled to left field.
Up 2-1 in the top of the seventh, pitcher
Linnay Wilson intentionally walked one of the Cyclones. With bases loaded, Iowa State's Taylor Neard hit a double, sending all three Cyclones home. Iowa State scored one more run in the seventh to take a 5-2 lead.
The Lions weren't able to put any runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh, ending their season.
The Lions had five hits compared to the Cyclone's six. Martin went 2-3 at the plate, while Gonzalez, Grumbo and Flores all went 1-3.
Bandimere pitched her last game of her collegiate career, as she threw 4.0 innings, allowing three hits and one run. The senior had two strikeouts.
Wilson came in for the last 3.0 innings, giving up three hits and four runs. The sophomore had five strikeouts.
The Lions close out their 2019 season with a 40-21 on year, while going 11-4 in conference play.
