The rain finally cooperated and the Lindenwood softball team took the field Tuesday afternoon against Missouri Valley for its final HAAC doubleheader of the season.
Sophia Galati smacked three home runs, and pitchers
Aubrey Moss and
Rebecca Peddicord shut down the Vikings to propel the Lady Lions to their first HAAC championship since 2002.
Moss was brilliant in a 5-1 victory in the opening game. She nearly tossed the second perfect game of her career, but lost it with two outs in the seventh inning on a walk. Missouri Valley’s next batter doubled to plate the Vikings' only run. Moss quickly regrouped and calmly retired the next batter to earn her team-leading 11th win of the season.
Galati continued her recent tear, belting two solo shots as part of a three-hit effort to provide the run support.
Peddicord blanked Missouri Valley in game two as Lindenwood clinched the fourth HAAC championship in program history with a 5-0 win.
Peddicord struck out four, scattering six hits over seven scoreless innings. She improved to 8-7 on the year after starting the season 1-6.
Galati added another round tripper, giving her five in the last six games, and
Danielle Merli connected on her first home run of the season to spark the offense. Merli also added a RBI double as well.
Lindenwood (30-18, 17-3) will have home-field advantage throughout the conference postseason tournament which begins this Friday. The Lady Lions will host Baker in round one, beginning at 5 p.m.