Sat, May 3, 2008 - [Softball] - Viewed 946 times
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Friends claims second straight tourney title, 29th straight win
GAME 11: Friends 3, KWU 2 – KWU got two runs in the top of the
sixth to break a scoreless tie off a homerun by Michelle Webster, but
Friends answered back with three runs in the bottom half of the inning
and held on for the win.
Wesleyan pitcher Katie Coker rebounded from her struggles yesterday
with dehydration to strike out the side in the Friends half of the
first, and retired the first five Friends batters she faced before
giving up a two-out single to Bobbi McCarty.
The Coyotes had a chance in the top of the second to score, but Friends
pitcher Megan VinZant struck out the final two batters in the frame to
hold Wesleyan off the board.
The Coyotes had another golden chance in the fourth, but again fell
short, this time leaving the bases loaded. Megan Duchene led off the
inning with a hit, but back-to-back fielders' choice plays left only
one runner on with two outs. Brittany Ludwisiak singled and Chanelle
Thompson was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but VinZant jammed up
Barkley to pop out to left to end the rally.
Duchene would be hit by a pitch to lead off the sixth for the Coyotes;
setting up Webster to hit a line drive homerun to center that nearly
cleared the 250-foot fence to put Wesleyan up 2-0. Jenny Menke would
follow with a double and Ludwisiak would reach on an error to give the
Coyotes two runners with no outs. Chanelle Thompson then popped out to
short and Menke was doubled up at second for a double play before
Barkley struck out to end the inning.
Friends evened the score in their half of the sixth, using a two-run
homer by Stephanie Jaime after Amy Martinez led off the frame with a
single. Haley Martin grounded out to third before VinZant walked and
moved to third on back-to-back wild pitches by Coker. Allison Bellar
then hit a ball to third that was booted by Watson to score VinZant to
put the Falcons up 3-2. Casey Jenson would end the rally when she
popped out to short.
After a leadoff ground out in the seventh, Wesleyan got back to back
singles from Peat and Watson to get two runners on with just one out.
VinZant would throw a wild pitch but Peat would be thrown out at third
on the play. Duchene would ground out to short to end the game.
Coker went the distance for the Coyotes, throwing six innings, allowing
three runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking just one.
Seven different players each had one hit for the Coyotes, while Webster
drove in both runs on her homer.
VinZant went the distance for Friends, giving up two runs on seven hits
while striking out five and walking one. Five different Falcon players
each had one hit, while Jaime drove in two and Bellar had one RBI.
GAME 12: Ottawa 12, Bethany 4 (6 Innings) – Ottawa scored seven
runs in the first two innings, and added two more in the sixth to
run-rule Bethany in the loser's bracket semifinal game 12-4.
The Braves also capitalized on five Bethany errors.
Jamie Miller led the Braves with three hits, while three others had two
hits each. Ashley Mundy drove in 4 RBIs with a double and a home run
and Sharee Joyner drove in three, also with a double and a homer.
Pam Johnston took the win for Ottawa, pitching five innings, giving up
four runs on seven hits while striking out one and walking one.
Three different Bethany players had two hits, and Kelli Noonan drove in
two runs while Jacquelyn Hernandez drove in one.
Savannah Dejmal took the loss, giving up six runs on five hits, and
Breanna Boling made a relief appearance for the Swedes, pitching three
innings, giving up six runs on six hits.
GAME 13: KWU 5, Ottawa 4 – KWU rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the
bottom of the seventh, scoring three runs on an error by Ottawa
shortstop Ashley Mundy to get the 5-4 win in the final game of the
loser's bracket.
The Braves jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, thanks to a two-run
double by Sharee Joyner and a RBI single by Lori Ewalt, all coming off
of Coker, who started the game.
After the first, both pitchers took control of the game until the sixth
when the Braves added a run in the top half of the inning. Kelly Higbie
hit a homer to left to give Ottawa a 4-0 lead. Pinch runner Erin
Michael tried to score when Jamie Miller flew out to right, but a
pin-point throw from Ludwisiak would gun her down at the plate.
Ludwisiak led off the Coyote seventh with a single, and Wesleyan loaded
the bases with two one-out singles from Barkley and Chanelle Thompson.
Peat then reached on a fielder's choice that scored Ludwisiak but did
not record an out. Watson would then hit a missle that went right under
Mundy's glove at short. All three base runners scored to give the
Coyotes the 5-4 win.
Peat, who relieved Coker after the fifth, got the win, pitching two
innings, giving up one run on four hits. Coker threw five innings,
giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out six and walking
one. Webster and Barkley had two hits each to lead the Coyotes
offensively.
Jamie Simms took the loss for Ottawa, going six and a third innings
when the game ended. She gave up five runs on eight hits and struck out
two. Three different Braves each had two hits to lead the Braves.
GAME 14: Friends 10, KWU 0 – Friends won its second straight
KCAC Tournament title, as the Falcons won their 29th consecutive game
of the season, beating KWU 10-0.
The Coyotes seemed to run out of fresh bodies in their third game and
almost did literally.
The Falcons plated three runs in the first inning, sparked by Jaime's
homer to lead off the inning. Ashley Martin reached on a bunt single,
followed by a VinZant walk. After a pop out that was ruled an infield
fly, allowing Martin to go to third, she would score when a throw to
third was wild. After another pop out, Bobbi McCarty doubled to score
VinZant. Then Wesleyan lost third baseman Heather Watson when a line
drive shot by Jenson would hit her in the forehead. Sorenson ended the
inning with a ground out.
Martinez led off the second for Friends reaching on an error, and Jaime
reached when she was hit by a pitch. Martin then grounded out to first
to advance the runners before VinZant would double them both home.
Matthews then singled and VinZant scored when Duchene's throw was wild
to first. McCarty hit a sac fly to score the Falcons' final run of the
inning.
Friends' pitcher Brandi Leeker struck out the side in the third and
carried a no-hitter into the fifth when Webster snuck in a single to
lead off the frame.
The Coyotes turned to regular shortstop Jessica Barkley to pitch the
remainder of the game to rest Coker for next week's regional
tournament. In her first action in the circle all season, she forced
the first two batters she faced into ground outs back to her and struck
out Martin to end the third.
VinZant led off the fourth with a single and later scored along with
Bellar who had walked when Annie Matthews launched a three-run homer to
put the Falcons up 10-0.
The Coyotes were unable to score in the fifth and Friends got the win.
Peat took the loss for the Coyotes, giving up seven runs on six hits
while walking two. Barkley pitched two innings, giving up three runs on
two hits while striking out one and walking two. Webster got Wesleyan's
only hit of the game.
Leeker got the win, throwing a one hitter, while striking out eight and
walking two. VinZant and Matthews each had two hits, while Matthews led
the way with three RBIs.