#7 NHTI 2 - #10 Penn College 6
In the first game of the 2014 USCAA Softball National Championship, #10 Penn College defeated #7 NHTI 6-2. The Lady Wildcats did the majority of their damage in the third inning, scoring five runs on RBI singles from Racheal Shaeffer, Macie Lucas, Nicole Lofurno, and Samantha Hill and miscues defensively from NHTI.
Penn College’s Arika Stopper pitched a complete game, giving up just two runs and tallied eight strikeouts. Alexandra Brennan, Shaeffer, and Lucas recorded two hits apiece, and Stopper added two RBI’s in the Wildcats’ winning effort. Kasie Tucker added two hits and a home run to lead NHTI. Tori Lemay pitched all seven innings for the Lynx, giving up six runs (three earned), striking out seven, and adding an RBI single at the plate.
Penn College will advance in the winner’s bracket to face #2 Lindenwood University-Belleville at 8:00 PM.
#8 Penn State Mont Alto 11 - #9 Concordia College-Alabama 0
The second game of the 2014 USCAA Softball National Championship featured #8 PSU Mont Alto defeating #9 Concordia-Alabama 11-0. The Lady Lions jumped out to an early 4-0 lead before a 2-hour rain delay halted play in the bottom of the third inning. Penn State Mont Alto tallied 7 runs in the bottom of the fourth to advance (8-run mercy rule after the fourth inning).
First Team All-American Sarah Bortner led the Lady Lions, pitching a complete game shut out, allowing just 1 hit and striking out 12 Lady Hornets. On the offensive side of the plate, Bortner was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI's and 2 runs scored. Teammates Diamond Byers and Mariah Yingling each chipped in 3 RBI's on 2 hits. Concordia College-Alabama's lead-off hitter Priscilla Smith tallied the Lady Hornet's only hit on the afternoon.
Penn State Mont Alto will advance to play top seed St. Mary of the Woods at 7:30 PM on Monday at Firestone Stadium.
#3 Ave Maria University 4 - #6 Penn State Hazleton 0
The Ave Maria Lady Gyrenes from Southern Florida defeated Penn State Hazleton 4-0 on the arm of Second Team All-American Cheyenne Benson. The sophomore pitcher struck out 10 while holding the Lady Lions to just 1 hit. That lone hit came from freshman catcher Erin Dougherty in the top of the second inning.
As part of a three run second inning, Ave Maria third baseman Jesseina Gonzalez hit a 2-run single that scored Miranda Dessecker and Marlie Brady to give the Gyrens all the offense they would need. Later, Brandi Griswold dropped down a sacrifice bunt that to scored center fielder, Alexandra Campbell to extend the score to 4-0. Penn State Hazleton's lone hit came from freshman catcher Erin Dougherty.
The Gyrenes will advance to the semi-finals to take on the winner of #2 Lindenwood University-Belleville and #10 Penn College at 12:00pm on Tuesday, May 13 at Firestone Stadium. Penn State Hazleton will take on #7 NHTI on Tuesday at 2:00pm and try to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament.
#4 Carlow University 0 - #5 Briarcliffe College
In the first pitcher’s duel of the tournament, #5 Briarcliffe College received a complete game shutout from Laura Arabito (7 IP, 3 hits) to defeat #4 Carlow University 3-0. In a game that featured only six hits, the Lady Bulldogs scored took advantage of several Lady Celtic miscues defensively.
USCAA First-Team All-American Lyndsay Coppola doubled in the fourth, before advancing on a passed ball and scoring on a groundout to give Briarcliffe the early lead. Later, in the sixth inning Vikki Castillo and Coppola walked, advanced on a fly ball, and then scored on back-to-back errors from Carlow.
USCAA First Team All-American Emily Pritts pitched all seven innings for Carlow, giving up just the three unearned runs and striking out 9. Pritts, Meghan Dulaney, and Nicole George tallied Carlow’s only hits in the game.
