A day after throwing a one-hit shutout in USI Softball’s 1-0 upset of top-ranked University of North Georgia, sophomore pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt (Louisville, Kentucky) one-upped herself.
Leonhardt (23-12) tossed a complete-game no-hitter as the Screaming Eagles upset No. 6 Angelo State University, 3-0, Friday to advance to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Softball Championship.
The Eagles (38-23) broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning when junior outfielder Caitlyn Bradley (Forest, Indiana) roped a two-out, two-run single down the right field line. Sophomore outfielder Allison Schubert (Nicholasville, Kentucky) followed with an RBI-single for the Eagles, who had four hits and took advantage of an Angelo State error in the fifth frame.
Angelo State (53-8), meanwhile, was limited to just one base runner—a two-out walk in the second inning—as Leonhardt mowed down 10 batters en route to her second career no-hitter, fourth straight complete-game shutout and sixth complete-game shutout of the postseason.
Leonhardt’s effort Friday marked the first no-hitter in the NCAA II Softball Championship since University of Indianapolis ace Morgan Foley tossed a no-hitter in the Greyhound’s 1-0 win over North Georgia May 21, 2015. The only perfect game in NCAA II Softball Championship history was thrown by Kathy Slaten of California State University-Northridge May 21, 1983.
Due to rain in the forecast Saturday, USI’s semifinal game has been moved to 9:30 a.m. (CDT). The Eagles will face either North Georgia, West Chester University or St. Leo University. A win Saturday puts the Eagles into the best-of-three national championship series, which starts Sunday at 4 p.m.
