Loop Powers Linfield Past Emory

Catcher Belts Two Homers, Drives in Five

May 18, 2007  -  Box Score

SALEM, Va. --- Linfield College (41-6) scored in each of the first four innings en route to an 11-0 five-inning victory over Emory University (32-7) in the opening game of the 2007 NCAA Division III Softball Championship.  Catcher Jena Loop hammered powered the Wildcats outburst with two homeruns and five runs driven in.

“We just came out and played well,” explained Linfield head coach Jackson.  “Between the offense and Brittany we did a good job switching up pitches and changing speed, keeping them off balance.  It’s a success for us for sure.”

Linfield erupted for five runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks in large part to Loop’s first dinger, a three-run shot to left-center field.  The Wildcats started the inning with five straight hits, grabbing its first run on the second at-bat of the game when Stephanie Rice scampered home after the Emory leftfielder overran a single by Jenny Marshall.  Loop followed two batters with her 10^th homer of the season to put Linfield ahead 4-0. 

Amanda Attleberger kept the hit-parade rolling with a line-drive single to shortstop.  Lisa Smith followed two batters later with a blooper over second base, and Candice Fujino loaded the bases with a single past the first baseman.  Rice plated both Attleberger and Smith two batters later with a grounder through the hole on the right side.

Loop drove in two more in the second inning.  Meredith Brunette led off the frame with a single in between short and third.  Loop followed with a line shot to center that cleared the fence in a hurry for a 8-0 Linfield advantage.

Rochelle Friend led Linfield to its ninth run in the third inning, starting the frame with a rope double over the leftfielder’s head.  A sacrifice bunt by Rice and a fly ball to medium-deep center by Marshall brought Friend around to score.

An error by the Emory shortstop helped bring around two unearned runs for Linfield.  With two down, Erica Hancock singled just inside the right field line.  Smith followed with a grounder two short that turned into a two base error, putting runners at second and third for Fujino.  The Wildcats’ designated player came through with a single to center to push across both runners.

Starter Brittany Miller earned the victory for Linfield, improving to 21-4 on the season.  She gave up two hits and fanned four before being forced to leave the game after throwing 4.2 innings.  Five Wilcats’ picked up a pair of hits.  Rice and Fujino both had a pair of singles to go with two RBI apiece.

Kathy Gordon took the loss for Emory, falling to 16-5.  Ali Braverman and Lauren Haag accounted for the Eagles’ two hits.

“Hats off to them,” said Emory head coach Penny Siqueiros.  “They came out swinging the bat and were really aggressive.”

Linfield moves on to play the winner of DePauw University versus Moravian College on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.  Emory will start its trek through the lower half of the bracket at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday against the loser of the Depauw-Moravian contest.