MAY 7, 2009
KING'S SOFTBALL FALLS TO 19TH RANKED ROCHESTER IN NCAA OPENER, LADY MONARCHS TO FACE ST. JOHN FISHER IN FRIDAY ELIMINATION GAME
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ITHACA, NY – Second-seeded University of Rochester scored all four runs in a decisive third inning as the 19th ranked Yellow Jackets posted a 4-0 victory over seventh-seeded King's College in the first-round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament's Regional Championships Thursday at Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY.
With the win, Rochester improved to 32-10 on the year and advances to the second round of regional play. King's, meanwhile, slipped to 24-13 and will now look to work its way through the loser's bracket in the double-elimination event.
King's missed out on an early scoring chance in the top of the first inning as Meaghan Galvin reached base on a one-out single. During the next at-bat, however, Lauren DeCreny lined out to shortstop and Galvin was doubled up at first-base to end the threat.
Rochester looked to strike first in the bottom of the inning when Katie McLean reached base on a fielder's choice and moved to second-base on an infield out. King's pitcher Lindsey Hoerner, however, would then strike out Elizabeth Slupinksi to end the inning.
In the second inning, King's created another opportunity when Becky Loring drew a leadoff walk, but Rochester pitcher Beth Ameno induced an infield pop-up and struck out two batters to dash the Lady Monarchs' scoring chance.
The bottom of the fourth inning proved to be the difference when Rochester leadoff hitter Juliana Nicholson reached base when she was hit by a Hoerner pitch. After Brittany Celese grounded out to third base, moving Nicholson to second, Lindsay Macaluso delivered a RBI single to centerfield to score Nicholson. McLean would then single, advancing Macaluso to third base. After McLean stole second base, Grimes came through with a two-run single to right field to push the score to 3-0. Grimes would then move to second on a sacrifice bunt and Nikki DiSalvo drew a two-out walk. Ameno then followed with a shot to right center, scoring Grimes, but was thrown out at third base before DiSalvo could score, as Rochester took a 4-0 lead.
Rochester looked to add to its lead in the bottom of the fifth as McLean reached base on a one-out bunt single and advanced to second-base on a single up the middle by Grimes. McLean moved to third when a grounder by Slupinski forced Grimes out at second. King's escaped when Hoerner struck out DiSalvo to end the inning.
After King's went down in order in the sixth, the Lady Monarchs had one last chance in the seventh inning when DeCreny reached base on a one-out error and moved to second on an infield out. Ameno, however, would retire Hoerner for the final out of the game.
Ameno finished the game with a one-hitter, striking out six batters while walking one-hitter. Grimes was 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and one run scored. McLean also added two hits and scored one run.
Hoerner pitched well in the game, yielding all four runs in the third inning. The Lady Monarch junior allowed seven base hits and struck out four hitters. Galvin posted the lone hit for King's on a first-inning single.
King's will face St. John Fisher College (30-11) in an elimination game Friday at 10:00 a.m. St. John Fisher, which enterd the tournament as the third seed, was upset 10-2 in the first round by sixth-seeded Keuka on Thursday.
See the web site listed at top for updated results and schedule information.
