COLLEGE MAY 10 2008

COLLEGE MAY 10 2008

more to come at midnight

TOP 25 SCORES (ESPN/USA softball)

1. Florida def Alabama 4-1, won SEC

2. Arizona State def California 5-2

3. UCLA def Oregon State 5-1

4. Alabama lost SEC championship to Florida

5. Michigan

6. Texas A&M def Texas 3-1

7. Oklahoma lost to Nebraska 6-5

8. Stanford lost to Arizona 6-1

9. Arizona def Stanford 6-1

10. Fresno State

11. Houston lost CUSA championship to UCF 4-2

12. Northwestern def Iowa 1-0, won Big Ten

13. North Carolina lost to NC State 1-0

14. Tennessee

15. LSU

16. Long Beach State def Pacific 1-0

17. Virginia Tech def Florida State 2-0 no hitter

18. ULL def ULM 13-0, won Sun Belt

19. San Diego State def UNLV 6-0, won MWC berth

20. Nevada lost WAC championship to Louisiana Tech 2-1

21. U Mass def Charlotte 3-0, won A-10 berth

22. Hawaii

23. DePaul def USF 4-1, won Big East berth

24. Washington lost to Oregon 3-0

25. Cal lost to ASU 5-2

26. Missouri

27. Creighton

28. Mississippi State

29. Georgia

30. Hofstra lost to JMU 5-4, def Towson 4-2

31. South Florida lost Big East title to DePaul 4-1

32. BYU def New Mexico 8-4

33. Oregon def Washington 3-0

NON-TOURNAMENT GAMES

Big West

Cal Poly-SLO 5 UC-Riverside 2

WP-Robyn Kontra

LP-Christin Songer

UC-Santa Barbara 11 CS-Fullerton 7

WP-Tami Weston

LP-Christine Hiner

Northridge 7 UC-Davis 3

WP-Mercedes Lovato

LP-Jessica Hancock

Long Beach State 1 Pacific 0 LBSU has won Big West berth

WP-Brooke Turner (26-4) 4-Hitter

LP-Alyce Jorgensen (7-10)

Mountain West

Colorado State 7 Utah 1

WP-Catye Billman

LP-Ashley Smuda

San Diego State 6 UNLV 0

WP-Christina Ross 2-Hitter LP-Heather Slettvet

San Diego State Earns Automatic Bid

The No. 19/21 San Diego State softball team captured its fourth Mountain West Conference championship in seven seasons with a 6-0 victory over UNLV Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas, Nev. With the win, the Aztecs (43-15, 15-5 MWC) earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The NCAA selection show will air Sunday at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.

San Diego State got its first run in the fifth inning when sophomore Lindsey Marquez (Tustin, Calif.) drew a bases loaded walk. After a lineout and a groundout, senior Tamani Wells (Concord, Calif.) singled off the UNLV (25-40-1, 5-15 MWC) pitcher Heather Slettvet (4-16). Junior Erin Floros (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel HS) and senior Megan McDonald (Glendale, Ariz.) each walked to load the bases for Marquez. The first two pitches to Marquez were balls and Slettvett was replaced by lefthander Traci Odegard. Odegard through a first-pitch strike and followed with ball. After a foul, Marquez took the low and outside 3-2 pitch to score Wells with the game-winning run.

The Aztecs gave senior pitcher Christina Ross (Santa Clarita, Calif.) some breathing room with five runs in the seventh, all with two outs. The first three came when junior Tonye McCorkle (Santa Ana Heights, Calif.) hit a pinch-hit single up the middle. Wells scored on the play and after a fielding error by the Rebel centerfielder, McDonald and freshman Samantha Beasley (San Diego, Calif./Steele Canyon HS) each raced around the basepaths for the team's third and fourth runs of the game. Junior Christine Kulick (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) and freshman Jen Wisneski (Riverside, Calif.) each followed with back-to-back doubles to wrap up San Diego State's five-run inning.
Wells was a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored to lead the Aztecs' hit barrage. McDonald reached base all four times with two singles and two walks, while Wisneski added two hits. Ross (30-12) pitched well once again for SDSU, surrendering just two hits over seven innings, a day after allowing just one hit in a five-inning shutout. Ross, who earned her eighth MWC Pitcher of the Week award on Tuesday, struck out six without giving up a walk.

BYU 8 New Mexico 4

WP-Christina Gwyn-Trice

LP-Kelly Ninemire

Pac-10

Arizona 6 Stanford 1

WP-Taryne Mowatt (24-12) 10 K's LP-Missy Penna (34-10)

Arizona's long-ball proficiency helped propel the No. 11-ranked Wildcats to a 6-1 victory over No. 8 Stanford to end the regular season Saturday.

The win gave UA a season sweep of the Cardinal, the Cats' only league 3-0 mark against a conference opponent this year

Home runs by Jenae Leles and Laine Roth gave UA an early lead, and it took advantage of a Stanford miscue to put more runs on the board later.

Taryne Mowatt (24-12) earned the victory for Arizona while Cardinal ace Missy Penna (34-10) took the loss. Mowatt struck out 10 and survived eight Stanford hits. Penna gave up seven hits, striking out two.

Arizona (36-16) won its fifth straight and earned sole possession of third place in the Pac-10 at 13-8, dropping Stanford (46-12) to 11-10 and into fourth place.

Both teams are headed for the postseason, with the NCAA Softball Championships selection announcement coming at 7 p.m. (Tucson time) Sunday, on ESPNU cable. Both schools have bid for a Regional.

Unlike Friday when Mowatt got deep into the Cardinal lineup before allowing a hit, Alissa Haber led off the game with a stand-up triple to left center when centerfielder Adrienne Acton tried for the catch and the ball bounced to the fence. Shannon Koplitz followed with a liner to right for the sacrifice fly and a 1-0 lead.

Maddy Coon then singled to left. Mowatt struck out Rosey Neill, threw two wild pitches to put Coon on third, and then struck out Michelle Smith to stop the rally. The run snapped a 27-inning scoreless streak Mowatt had built through her last four games.

The Cats were not to be outdone. K'Lee Arredondo doubled to left center and advanced to third when centerfielder Haber bobbled the ball, and then Jenae Leles slugged her 14th home run, to left. Next, Lanie Roth regained the team lead with her 15th four-base hit, to right to make it 3-1.

Stanford threatened, but stranded three in the third. Anna Beardman beat out a groundball to short to open the frame, and Haber followed with a single to left. Koplitz and Coon hit infield popups, but Mowatt hit Neill with a pitch to load the bases. Mowatt got another short popup from Smith to end the inning.

Haber collected her third hit of the day with one out in the SU fifth, and Koplitz dropped a bloop single into short left to put two runners aboard. But Mowatt struck out Coon and Neill for two more LOBs.

The Cats loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth, with a walk by Arredondo and hits by Leles and Roth. Stacie Chambers hit a routine grounder to second, but Erin Howe dropped the throw at first to allow two unearned runs to score. Balko followed with an RBI double to left center, but pinch-runner Jessica McNamara was caught off the bag at third after rounding the base, to stop the rally.

Arizona State 5 California 2

WP-Katie Burkhart (32-5) LP-Marissa Drewrey (26-16)

Kaitlin Cochran’s two-run home run proved to be the difference in a historical night for the Sun Devil Softball team as they topped the 23^rd-ranked Cal Bears 4-2 Friday night in Tempe. The win gives ASU at least a piece of the Pac-10 Championship, and puts ASU one win from standing as conference champions alone. ASU is now 55-5 overall, which sets a new single-season record for wins for the Sun Devils and 17-3 in the Pac-10. Cal falls to 40-23 and 7-13 in conference action. The Sun Devil defense got off to a shaky start again as the Cal Bears grabbed a 2-0 lead after putting a run on the board in the first and second after rattling off five hits, which ended the night for Megan Elliott and brought on ASU ace Katie Burkhart. With Burkhart on the mound, Cal’s offense was silenced and ASU’s finally woke up as they pushed a run across in the second to cut Cal’s lead in half. Kaitlin Cochran broke it open in the fifth inning with a single from Jackie Vasquez being brought home as Cochran dug in after watching two balls go by before smashing her 12^th home run on the season to give ASU the 3-2 advantage. A lead-off walk to Jessica Mapes followed with a single from Rhiannon Baca and an amazing double steal proved to be costly for the Bears in the sixth inning as Kaitlin Cochran got it done again with a 4-3 RBI ground out to push ASU ahead 4-2 where Katie Burkhart closed it out for her 31^st win on the year and ASU’s 55^th, a new single-season record for the Sun Devils.

The Sun Devils now have one game remaining in the 2008 regular season as they play host to the 23^rd-ranked Cal Golden Bears one last time tomorrow afternoon. Game time is set for noon in Tempe at Farrington Stadium. In addition the Sun Devils will host a Selection Show viewing party to see who ASU will face in the NCAA Regionals on Sunday at 7 p.m. at Majerle’s Sports Grill in Chandler.

UCLA 5 Oregon State 1

WP-Anjelica Selden (24-3) 3-Hitter 8 K's LP-Kelly Dyer (19-25)

The third-ranked Bruins pounded out 10 hits for the second straight game, as junior Amanda Kamekona and freshmen GiOnna DiSalvatore and Katie Schroeder each had multiple-hit contests to lead UCLA to a 5-1 victory over Oregon State on Saturday at the OSU Softball Complex.

The Bruins finish the regular season with a 45-7 overall record and a 17-4 mark in Pac-10 play. UCLA finds out where its postseason journey begins on Sunday when the NCAA softball selection show airs on ESPNU at 7 p.m. Oregon State concludes its year at 28-31 and 6-15 in league play.

Senior Anjelica Selden moved to 24-3 in the circle with the victory, striking out eight and allowing three hits, one run and two walks in a complete-game effort.

For the second straight game, DiSalvatore went 3-for-4, driving in a pair of runs. Kamekona and Schroeder also added two-hit contests.

UCLA scored in its first at-bat for the 26th time this season to remain a perfect 26-0 when accomplishing the feat. Katie Schroeder led off with a single up the middle and senior Krista Colburn drew a walk to put two on base. One out later, sophomore Megan Langenfeld singled up the middle to plate Schroeder and give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.

The Bruins added another run in the top of the third. Colburn blooped a one-out single to right and came around to score on Kamekona's team-leading 16th double of the season to right-center to make it 2-0. The two-bagger for Kamekona puts her in a tie for fourth on UCLA's single-season doubles list and extended her hitting streak to 11 games.

The Beavers trimmed the deficit to one with a run in the bottom of the third. Alana Ford drew a one-out walk, stole second and scored on a single up the middle by Paige Lowe to make it 2-1.

UCLA got the run back in the fourth. With one out, junior Jennifer Schroeder singled through the left side and was pinch-run for by freshman Lauren Mirabal, who moved to second on a passed ball and to third on a ground out by senior Ashley Herrera. Katie Schroeder then came through with the two-out hit, doubling to the left-center field gap to plate Mirabal and increase the Bruins' lead to 3-1.

The Bruins extended their lead in the sixth with two more runs. With one out, Katie Schroeder walked and stole second. Oregon State's Kelly Dyer recorded the second out of the inning, but then allowed a single to left to Kamekona and walked Langenfeld intentionally to load the bases. DiSalvatore made the Beavers pay for the intentional walk, doubling to right-center to score Schroeder and Kamekona to make it a 5-1 game.

Dyer went the distance for the Beavers, allowing five runs, 10 hits and three walks with two strikeouts.

Oregon 3 Washington 0
WP-Alicia Cook (16-12) 4-Hitter LP-Aleah Macon (16-15)

In Saturday’s softball regular season finale, senior Alicia Cook helped write a nearly perfect Senior Day script with her four-hit shutout to lift the University of Oregon over Washington, 3-0, at Howe Field. In her third straight day as a starter, the Elmira, Ore., native (16-12) pitched her fifth shutout of the season, and struck out four, walked one and allowed only four hits. Oregon (33-27, 5-16) scored single runs in the first, third and fourth innings to beat its fourth different opponent in the nation’s top softball league, the Pac-10. Cook was awarded each conference victory, and enjoyed her fifth win over a top-25 team this year. A season high 468 fans also cheered on the Duck defense that helped force the UW (28-23, 7-14) to leave runners on third base in the first, second and third innings - and with only one out in those first two situations. From the fourth inning on, Cook retired 12 of the next 13 batters with the only runner reaching on an infield single. In the seventh inning, UW’s leadoff hitter Jace Williams lined a sinking shot into right field, but senior Kayleen Hudson charged in made a diving catch to her right to save the extra base hit. UW starter Aleah Macon (16-15) pitched the first four innings, and struck out six, walked three and all three of her runs allowed were earned. Caitlin Noble pitched final two innings, gave up one hit, struck out two and walked one.

DIVISION 1 TOURNAMENTS

Scores and game capsules from Ultimate College Softball, tournament web sites, Gametracker and SPYmail)

ACC Championship--College Park, Md.

Saturday, May 10
7	Semifinal: #2 Virginia Tech vs. #3 Florida State	2 p.m.	Gametracker Webcast on ACC Select
8	Semifinal: #1 North Carolina vs. #5 NC State	4:30 p.m.	Gametracker Webcast on ACC Select
*The semifinal games are now single-elimination contests.

The ACC championship game will be played at noon Sunday

Changed to Single Elimination Due to Conditions Georgia Tech & Boston College Eliminated

Game 7 W2 #2 Virginia Tech 2 W1 #3 Florida State 0 Florida State Eliminated

WP-Angela Tincher (32-6) No-Hitter 13 K's LP-Tiffany McDonald (17-11) 4-Hitter

Erin Ota sparkled at bat, hitting a double in the 1st, then opening the 3rd with a double to left. With one out Misty Hall

drove in the first run with a single. With two out, Jessica Everhart drove in the final run with a double. After a rough game in the first round of the tournament, Tincher (W, 32-6) was lights out in Saturday's action, striking out 13. The only play to spoil the perfect game was a dropped third strike by catcher Kelsey Hoffman that allowed Buckmon to reach first base. The no-hitter is just the third in ACC Softball Championship history and the 14^th of Tincher's career.

Game 8 W4 #5 North Carolina State 1 W3 #1 North Carolina 0 North Carolina Eliminated

WP-Lindset Campana (19-17) 3-Hitter LP-Lisa Norris (17-4)

Kristine Bechtholdt hit a solo jack and Lindsay Campana held one of the nation’s top offenses to three quiet hits as NC State stunned No. 13 North Carolina, 1-0, to earn a spot in the ACC Championship game on Saturday, May 10. The win moves the Pack to 31-26 on the year, while UNC dips to 50-10-1. Despite getting swept in a three-game regular season stand just a few weeks ago, the Pack is now 12-5 all-time against its arch nemesis. The victory marks the third time in four years that the Wolfpack has knocked the Tar Heels out of the ACC tournament. State is 4-0 all-time against UNC at the ACC Championships.

Campana (19-17), who tossed a one-hitter against Georgia Tech in the opening round of the tournament, picked up the complete game win on seven K’s across 106 pitches. Lisa Norris (17-4) suffered the loss.

First-team All-ACC player Shanna Smith started the bottom of the first with a walk, and took to second when Ashleigh Davis flew out to left and Whitney Allen slipped after making the grab. Conference freshman of the year Alyssa Allbritten followed with a walk, but Claudia Cooper struck out and Allison Presnell grounded back to the circle. UNC had a runner on first with two down in the top of the second, with Alyssa Francona owning a 3-0 count at the plate. But Campana bounced back with three-straight strikes to quiet the Tar Heel contingent. State went up 1-zip in the bottom of the second on a one-run blast from Bechtholdt, who cracked her eighth dinger of the year over the wall inmdead center by clobbering Norris’ second pitch of the inning. North Carolina was out for blood in the top of the fourth, but the Wolfpack defense ended any potential threat. Jennifer Jacobs landed the Tar Heels first hit with a sinking liner into left; Emily Troup followed with a walk. But Whitney Allen sent a grounder to Smith at short, where she stepped on the bag and fired to first for an inning-ending double play. ACC Player of the Year Danielle Spaulding drew a two-out walk in the top of the sixth, and Jennifer Jacobs followed with a single into right. Campana, however, induced a Troup grounder to short, and that was all she wrote on the potential rally. The top of the seventh wasn’t exactly a joy ride for the Pack or its traveling party. Allen singled through the left side, and Ashley Oxendine came on to run at first. But Campana was resilient, catching Norris and Francona swinging before Brittany McKinney grounded out to clinch State’s title game berth.

State will make its second appearance in the ACC title game in three years against No. 17 Virginia Tech tomorrow, Sunday, May 11, with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line. The all-time series between the two programs is knotted at 7-7. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. Live stats will be available via GoPack.com, while Fox Sports South, NESN, Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic and Fox Sports Florida will air the game live on TV.

America East Championship--Albany, N.Y.

Game 10 Championship #3 Stony Brook 4 W5 #1 Albany 0

WP-Alyssa Strutzenberg (24-8)

LP-Marissa Powell (13-10)

Stony Brook Automatic Bid

A-10 Tournament--Charlotte, N.C

Game 9 L7 #3 Charlotte 2 L8 #4 Fordham 1

Fordham tied top 7^th; Palma doubled, scored winning run in bottom half on Rumbles sac fly.

WP Katy Hackett LP Allison Twarowski WP

Game 10 Championship #1 UMass 3 W9 #3 Charlotte 0 CBS-College Tape Delay--8 pm ET

WP-Brandice Balschmiter (30-6) 3-Hitter 10 K's

LP-Katy Hackett (17-17)

UMass Earns Automatic Bid

The 20th-ranked UMass softball team is heading back to the NCAA Tournament after the Minutewomen won their 29th game in a row to capture the Atlantic 10 Championship with a 3-0 win over Charlotte on Saturday. Brandice Balschmiter tossed a three-hit shutout as she struck out 10 49ers. UMass freshmen Audrey Boutin and Lindsay Maroney, both playing in their first-ever A-10 Tournament Championship, were the offensive heroes Saturday driving in all three runs on back-to-back hits in the bottom of the fourth. If you want to watch Saturday's title win, it will be replayed on Saturday night at 8 p.m. on CBS College Sports.

A-Sun Tournament--DeLand, Fla.

Game 10 Championship #5 Campbell 6 #2 Stetson 3 (10 inn)

WP-Brittany Stanley LP-Amanda Lindsey Campbell Automatic Bid

With two on in the bottom of the 10^th inning, senior leftfielder Courtney Quinn belted her 20^th home run of the season, clinching Campbell’s first Atlantic Sun Softball Championship since 1995, as the Camels defeated Stetson, 6-3 in extra innings.

With the win, Campbell moves to 41-23 on the season, the schools second most wins in history, becoming the first No. 5 seed in A-Sun history to win the title. The Hatters fall to 43-24 with the loss.

Big Ten Tournament--Evanston, Ill.

Game 7 Championship W6 #1 Northwestern 1 W5 #3 Iowa 0

WP-Lauren Delaney (34-8) 2-Hitter 9 K's LP-Brittany Weil (26-13) 9 K's

Northwestern Earns Automatic Bid

Tournament MVP Delaney pitched her third consecutive shutout. the Wildcats won on Erin Dyer's two-out home run in the 4th.

Big 12 Championship--Oklahoma City, Okla.

Game 3 W1 #10 Nebraska 6 #2 Oklahoma 5

WP-Molly Hill (14-16) LP-Jadyn Smith (3-3) Oklahoma Eliminated

The Sooners fell to 43-12 while the Huskers improved to 24-27 overall. At the conclusion of OU’s game, there had been four Big 12 Championship games played and the lower seed won every single one. Oklahoma out hit the Huskers, but couldn’t seem to find its rhythm in the pitching circle until late. OU senior Lauren Eckermann earned the start and only threw 1.2 innings while giving up two runs, one earned, on two hits. Jadyn Smith relieved Eckermann, but only went 1.1 innings and gave up three earned runs on two hits. Smith took the loss and fell to 3-3 on the year. Junior D.J. Mathis was solid in the final four innings of the game as she only allowed one hit and no earned runs while striking out five.
The Sooners stranded 10 runners. Samantha Ricketts ripped two home runs on a 3-for-3 performance with four RBI. Susan Ogden added the squad’s only other RBI as she went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly. Oklahoma came into the contest as one of the 10 best fielding teams in the country, but two costly errors allowed two runs to score for the Huskers that also made a difference in the game.

Nebraska wasted no time getting on the board as Meghan Mullin led off the frame with a single through the left side. Next, Darcy Rutherford ripped a triple to right field that scored Mullin. Next, Crystal Carwile tried to lay down a squeeze bunt to score Rutherford, but Carwile didn’t get the bunt down and Rutherford got caught in a rundown. However, OU catcher Lindsey Vandever overthrew third baseman Jessica Legendre and Rutherford scored on the error as NU took the 2-0 lead. Eckermann settled and retired the next three batters as OU was down 2-0 before it had its turn to bat in the bottom of the second. The Sooners responded and took the lead in the bottom of the first as Krystle Huey reached on a fielder’s choice and Ogden followed that with a single. Next, Ricketts ripped a three-run homer over the left field wall on a 2-2 count. Ricketts’ pounded her 11^th home run of the season to give OU the 3-2 lead after one. With two outs in the top of the second and a runner at first, OU starter Eckermann was replaced by reliever Smith. The senior got Alex Hupp to fly out to centerfield to end the top of the second. Nebraska took the lead back in the top of the third; Rutherford walked and Carwile reached on a fielder’s choice. Ashley Guile doubled off the right field wall to score two runs. Haley Long singled up the middle to score Guile and take the 5-3 lead. Smithretired the next two batters. Mathis entered the circle for the Sooners in the top of the fourth. Mathis showed why she finished the regular season with the best ERA in the Big 12 as she retired all three batters she faced. Huey sparked the Sooners in the bottom of the fifth as she led off with triple off the centerfield wall. Ogden followed that with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Huey and cut the Nebraska lead to 5-4. Ricketts followed that with a double and Vandever walked and Long was hit by a pitch to load the bases. However, Oklahoma couldn’t take advantage as designated player Chana’e Jones roped a line drive to NU third baseman Heidi Foland, who made the catch and got the double play at third to end the frame. Whitney Barrett led off the seventh and notched a single up the middle as she was the first runner to reach base with Mathis pitching. Two outs later, Barrett was at third and OU catcher Vandever tried to pick her off, but overthrew third and Barrett scored to extend the lead to 6-4 and was eventually the game-winning run. Mathis struck out the next batter as the Sooners headed into the bottom of the seventh with one final chance. The Sooners tried to rally in the seventh as Ricketts led off the frame with her second home run of the game, a solo shot over the centerfield fence that closed the gap at 6-5. Next, Vandever notched an infield single between the pitcher and first baseman and Long followed that with a single up the middle as the Sooners had runners at first and second and no outs. Jones grounded out to the first baseman, but both OU runners moved into scoring position. However, similar to the rest of the game the Sooners couldn’t take advantage as the next two batters were retired to end the game.

Game 4 #6 Texas Tech 5 #3 Missouri 3

WP-Ashly Jacobs (10-14)

LP-Jen Bruck (16-9)

Missouri Eliminated

Game 5 #1 Texas A&M 1 W2 #9 Iowa State 0

WP-Megan Gibson (31-1) 2-Hitter 10 K's

LP-Rachel Zabriskie (15-14) 3-Hitter

Iowa State Eliminated

Game 6 #4 Texas 4 #5 Oklahoma State 3 (9 inn)

WP-Meagan Denny (20-8)

LP-Sarah Odom (8-6)

Oklahoma State Eliminated

Game 7 W3 #10 Nebraska 6 W4 #6 Texas Tech 1

WP-Mandy Hill

LP-Ashley Jacobs

Texas Tech Eliminated

Game 8 W5 #1 Texas A&M 3 W6 #4 Texas 1

WP-Megan Gibson (32-1) 5-Hitter 10 K's LP-Meagan Denny (20-9) Texas Eliminated

The fourth-seeded Texas Softball team’s third matchup of the season with top-seeded and fifth-ranked Texas A&M ended in much the same way the other two contests concluded, with the Longhorns dropping another narrow game to the Aggies, 3-1 in the semifinals of the Big 12 Conference Championship.

Texas finished tournament play with a 1-1 record and moved to 28-21-2 for the season, while Texas A&M advanced to the championship game and improved to 48-7 this season. Longhorns’ senior righthander Meagan Denny (20-9) suffered the loss after throwing her second complete game of the day, allowing three runs on four hits, striking out three and walking three in 6.0 innings of work. Texas A&M starter Megan Gibson (32-1) earned the victory, tossing 7.0 innings, giving up one run on five hits and fanning 10. The Aggies plated the game’s first runs in the third inning, breaking a scoreless tie when first baseman Rhiannon Kliesing launched a two-run homer to right centerfield and gave A&M a 2-0 edge. Texas cut the lead to 2-1 in the fifth, using a pinch-hit double to right centerfield by freshman Shelby Savony to score sophomore leftfielder Kori Cook who reached on a fielder’s choice. Texas A&M moved its edge back to two in the sixth when third baseman Jamie Hinshaw led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second on sacrifice. An RBI single by catcher Erin Glasco brought Hinshaw home and moved the A&M lead to 3-1. Texas out-hit Texas A&M 5-to-4 on the night with five different Longhorns recording a hit in the loss.

Big East Tournament--Louisville, Ky.

Game 7 Championship W5 #2 DePaul 4 W6 #1 USF 1

WP-Becca Heteniak LP-C Mosch

DePaul Automatic Bid

No. 2 seed DePaul scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and cruised to a 4-1 victory over top-seed USF to win the 2008 BIG EAST Softball Championship at Ulmer Stadium in Louisville, Ky. The title is the school’s first conference championship since joining the league in 2005. With the win, the Blue Demons earn the league’s automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Softball Championship. The Blue Demons (48-16) rode the hot arm of BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year Becca Heteniak, who threw nine strike outs in the title game and allowed five runs for a 1.20 ERA in her 31^st win of the season. Heteniak gave up seven runs and 18 hits over the three days and struck out 30 for a 1.68 ERA. The sophomore righty was named the championship’s Most Outstanding Player. Senior Courtney Mosch took the loss for the Bulls (44-18). Mosch split time in the circle with BIG EAST Rookie of the Year Capri Catalano. Mosch finished with three strike outs, four hits and one run for a 1.49 ERA, while Catalano totaled two strike outs, four hits and three runs for a 1.40 ERA. Junior third baseman Amber Patton led the Blue Demons at the plate with one RBI and a .402 batting average. Classmate Jackie Tarulli-Fisher was the team’s only player to score more than one hit, going 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI for a .271 average. Mosch captained the Bulls’ offense and went 2-for-3 for a .268 average.

DePaul broke the contest open in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring three runs and putting the game out of reach. Up 1-0 and with one out on the board, Tarulli-Fisher singled to left field. Junior Lauren Frankiewicz followed and reached after a Catalano pitch struck her. Catalano then loaded the bases with a walk to junior Stephanie Blagaich. Sophomore pinch hitter Maria Thompson scored two on the ensuing play with a single shot to right field. The Blue Demons quickly reloaded the bases, and Blagaich crossed the plate when Catalano hit her second batter of the inning and struck senior Amber Patton. Mosch replaced the rookie following the run and worked the Bulls out of the inning, but the damage was complete. The Blue Demons nabbed the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. With runners on first and second, USF coach Ken Eriksen pulled Mosch for Catalano. The switch did not deter DePaul, as Tarulli-Fisher singled up the middle and pushed Vojik across the plate.

Senior Aya Nakajima scored the Bulls’ only run of the contest, singling up the middle in the top of the seventh and scoring infielder Allison Savarese.

Despite the constant threat of inclement weather, the 2008 BIG EAST Softball Championship will go down in the books as one of the most closely-contested tournaments. The first six games were decided by two runs or less, a first in the conference championship 19-year history.

Big South Tournament--Rock Hill, S.C.

Game 10 Championship W7 #1 Winthrop 6 W9 #4 Liberty 1

WP-Megan Evans (18-6)

LP-Tiffani Smith (7-14)

Winthrop Automatic Bid

Sophomore Lenny Stoddart and junior Mallory Hogan each drove in two runs to help lead Winthrop to a 6-1 victory over fourth-seeded Liberty and its second straight Big South Conference championship and NCAA Regional berth.

CAA Championships--Hemstead, N.Y.

Game 3 W2 #3 James Madison 5 W1 #1 Hofstra 4

WP-Meredith Felts (17-8)

LP-Kayleigh Oliver (10-2)

Game 4 L1 #4 Towson 5 L2 #2 Georgia State 4

WP-Claire Rietmann-Grout (17-7)

LP-Maddi Gore (14-8)

Georgia State Eliminated

Game 5 L3 #1 Hofstra 4 W4 #4 Towson 2

WP-Kayleigh Lotti (19-5)

LP-Shannon Johnston (18-14)

Towson Eliminated

C-USA Championships--Houston, Texas

Game 8 Championship #2 UCF 4 #1 Houston 2

WP-Allison Kime (31-10) LP-Angel Shamblin (32-3)

UCF Automatic Bid

Tiffany Lane's (Moreno Valley, Calif.) two-run home run in the sixth inning led the UCF softball team to a, 4-2, win over Houston (50-9) Saturday afternoon at the Cougar Softball Stadium and to the 2008 Conference USA Softball Championship title, its first since joining the league in 2006. With the championship victory, the Knights (46-18) earned the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament

Horizon Tournament--Chicago, Ill.

Game 13 W10 #4 Loyola-Chicago 1 W11 #6 UW-Green Bay 0

WP-Amy Solava (15-14) 4-Hitter

LP-Anna Bluemel (9-12) 3-Hitter

UW-Green Bay Eliminated

Game 14 W13 #4 Loyola-Chicago 3 L9 #5 UIC 1

WP-Amy Solava (16-14)

LP-Sarah Clynes (15-18)

UIC Eliminated

Game 15 L12 #1 Cleveland State 5 W14 #4 Loyola-Chicago 0

WP-Amanda Macenko (26-13)

LP-Krista Crosson (6-11)

Loyola-Chicago Eliminated

Game 16 W12 #3 Wright State 2 W15 #1 Cleveland State 0

WP-Sharon Palma LP-Amanda Macenko

Wright State Automatic Bid

Wright State scored single runs in the second and third innings and, behind a two-hit shutout performance from tournament MVP Sharon Palma, the Raiders won their second straight Horizon League softball championship Saturday with a 2-0 decision over Cleveland State at the Loyola Softball Park in Chicago.

MAC Tournament--Akron, Ohio

Game 13 #6 Ohio 2 #3 Bowling Green 1 (10 inn)

WP-Emily Wethington (13-12)

LP-Hayley Wiemer (15-7)

Bowling Green Eliminated

Game 15 Championship #1 Kent State 5 W13 #6 Ohio 0

WP-Gabrielle Burns (19-5) 2-Hitter LP-Michelle Sauter (15-11)

Kent State Automatic Bid

With a rock solid defense behind her, Gabe Burns continued her dominance of Ohio University as Kent State became the first school in six years to win both the Mid-American Conference’s regular season and tournament titles Saturday (May 10) at Firestone Stadium. The Golden Flashes (44-10) played error-free for the fourth straight tournament game in its 5-0 shutout of the Bobcats.Burns (19-5) tossed a two-hit shutout against the Bobcats during the regular season and repeated that feat Saturday in the title game.

MAAC Championships--Stratford, Conn.

Game 3 W2 #1 Canisius 6 W1 #3 Fairfield 1

WP-Juliette Bowers (19-1)

LP-Sarah Minice (15-9)

Game 4 L2 #4 Marist 6 L1 #2 Niagara 0

WP-Megan Rigos (17-15)

LP-Brooke Viola (10-4)

Niagara Eliminated

Game 5 W4 #4 Marist 6 L3 #3 Fairfield 1

WP-Megan Rigos (18-15) 14 K's

LP-Sarah Minice (15-10)

Fairfield Eliminated

MEAC Championships--Ormond Beach, Fla.

Game 14 Championship W11 Delaware State 3 W13 Norfolk State 0

Delaware State Automatic Bid

Brittney Ruark tossed a two-hit shutout and Aisha Holloman smacked a three-run homer in the fourth inning to lift Delaware State to a 3-0 win over Norfolk State, and give the Hornets their first MEAC Softball Championship this afternoon in Ormond Beach, Fla. Delaware State completed a four-game tournament sweep to capture the 2008 MEAC title and the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.

MVC Tournament--Carbondale, Ill.

Game 7 Championship W5 #4 Drake 7 W6 #6 Missouri State 2

WP-Brynne Dordel (19-11) LP-Melissa Porche (19-16)

Drake Automatic Bid

Senior outfielder Kristin Birocci (Des Moines, Iowa/Lincoln) slugged a three-run home run to key a four-run uprising with two outs in the third inning as the Drake softball team beat Missouri State, 7-2, in the championship of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Saturday

NEC Tournament--Brooklyn, N.Y.

Game 1 #1 Long Island 6 #4 Wagner 2

Game 2 #3 Saint Francis 4 #2 Robert Morris 1

WP-Laura Caldwell (14-17)

LP-Brenna Reed (12-10)

Game 3 L2 #2 Robert Morris 6 L1 #4 Wagner 1

WP-Lindsey Moates (15-5) 5-Hitter 9 K's

LP-Kate Eshelman (9-9)

Wagner Eliminated

Game 4 W1 #1 Long Island 4 W2 #3 Saint Francis 3

WP-Blaire Porter (19-8)

LP-Laura Caldwell (14-18)

OVC Tournament--Jacksonville, Ala.

Game 9 W8 #5 Tennessee Tech 6 L7 #6 Samford 5

WP-Maddi Schmissrauter (11-11)

LP-Margeret Carter (7-9)

TTU-Stephanie Fischer Game-Ending 3-Run HR (Her 26th HR of the season)

Samford Eliminated

Game 10 Championship W7 #1 Jacksonville State 10 W9 #5 Tennessee Tech 1 (6 inn)

WP-Ashley Eliasson (14-3)

LP-Maddi Schmissrauter (11-12)

Jacksonville State Automatic Bid

Top-seeded Jacksonville State defeated No. 5 Tennessee Tech, 10-1, in six innings to earn the OVC Softball Tournament title and the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Gamecocks will find out their opponent in the NCAA tourney tomorrow night at 9:00 p.m. CT on ESPNU.

Courtney Underwood led the Gamecock offense as she went 2-for-4 with four RBI in the game. Rachel Fleming also recorded two hits and drove in a pair of runs. Chrissy O’Neal also had two RBI for JSU. Ashley Eliasson earned the win, allowing just one run and striking out three.

Amanda Glover hit a solo home run to provide all the Tech offense. She finished the day with two hits. Maddie Schmissrauter took the loss for the Golden Eagles, allowing five runs and striking out a pair.

Patriot Tournament--Highest Seed

Game 3 W1 #1 Lehigh 9 W2 #3 Bucknell 5

WP-Lisa Sweeney (24-3) 13 K's

LP-Christie Wiest (13-13)

Game 4 L2 #2 Lafayette 5 L1 #4 Army 3

WP-Kasey Karr (11-8)

LP-Veronica Barth (10-17)

S-Ali Henry (2)

Army Eliminated

Game 5 W4 #2 Lafayette 6 L3 #3 Bucknell 4 (8 inn)

WP-Ali Henry (11-10)

LP-Katie McDonald (9-14)

Bucknell Eliminated

SEC Championships--Baton Rouge, La.

Game 7 Championship W5 #1 Florida 4 W6 #2 Alabama 1

WP-Stacey Nelson (40-2) 3-Hitter LP-Kelsi Dunne (22-4)

Florida Automatic Bid

Florida senior Mary Ratliff did it to Alabama again. Ratliff beat the Crimson Tide in the second game of a doubleheader on March 12 with a two-out, two-strike seventh-inning grand slam. Saturday it was a two-out, two-strike sixth-inning slam that propelled the Gators to the SEC Tournament Championship with a 4-1 win at Tiger Park. Both home runs came off Alabama freshman hurler Kelsi Dunne (22-4). The Port Orange, Fla., native had pitched a fantastic game until that point. She allowed five total hits and struck out six. Gator’s starting pitcher Stacey Nelson earned the win in the circle to improve to 40-2 on the season. Florida is now 62-2 and has won 35 games in a row. The Crimson Tide falls to 51-6 and await word on their NCAA Tournament plans on the selection show at 9 p.m. Sunday night on ESPNU. A leadoff single in the sixth inning by Brittany Rogers through the left side of the infield put the pressure on the Florida defense that would lead to Alabama’s only run of the game. Jordan Praytor sacrificed her over to second base with a perfect bunt and Rogers then moved up to third on a wild pitch from Nelson. Charlotte Morgan show why she leads the SEC in RBI by putting the next pitch in play with a ground ball to second base that scored Rogers. The RBI was Morgan’s 69^th of the season, which ties the Alabama single-season record set by Ginger Jones in 2000.

Southern Championships--Charleston, S.C.

Game 13 W12 #1 Chattanooga 3 L11 #5 UNC Greensboro 0

WP-Brooke Loudermilk (17-7) 4-Hitter 9 K's

LP-Hannah Angel (12-14)

UNC Greensboro Eliminated

Game 14 W13 #1 Chattanooga 3 W11 #2 Georgia Southern 2

WP-Brooke Loudermilk (18-7)

LP-Melissa Laliberte (19-12)

UTC-Scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th

Game 15 #1 Chattanooga 10 #2 Georgia Southern 1 (5 inn)

WP-Kandice Irwin (9-8)

LP-Megen Smith (13-9)

Chattanooga Automatic Bid

Chattanooga exploded for nine runs in the fifth inning to win its third game of the day and claim the SoCon Softball Tournament title at the Patriots Point Athletics Complex.

With the score tied 1-1 and two outs in the top of the fifth inning, Laci Upchurch drew a walk to start the Lady Mocs rally. Senior Ashlan Clarkson doubled to left field to plate Upchurch and put the Lady Mocs ahead. Tiffany Baker followed with a single, and Lynleigh Hurndon scored Clarkson on a sharp single through the left side of the infield.

From there, the floodgates opened as Brittany Eason recorded a two-run double, Tara Tembey blasted a two-run home run and Toni Hutchison slammed a three-run shot stake UTC to a 10-1 lead.

In all, nine runners scored on eight hits – all of which came with two outs.

Tournament Most Outstanding Player Brooke Loudermilk allowed one run in two innings before giving way to Kandice Irwin, who earned the victory after throwing three no-hit innings in relief of Loudermilk. Irwin moved to 9-8 on the season after retiring the side in order in the fifth inning to end the game due to the eight-run rule.

Southland Tournament--San Marcos, Texas

Game 7 Championship #4 Stephen F. Austin 2 #6 Nicholls State 1

WP-Monika Covington (20-12) 9 K's

LP-Krystalin Ensminger (10-13)

Stephen F. Austin Automatic Bid

A day after senior Jessica Tullos put the Ladyjacks in the Southland Conference Tournament championship game with a sixth-inning home run, a Stephen F. Austin rookie sent the Ladyjacks to the NCAA Championships with a walk-off homer in the bottom of the seventh inning. Freshman Ashley Struchtemeyer lifted her eighth bomb of the season out to right-center field to give SFA a 2-1 win over Nicholls State Saturday at Bobcat Field.

Summit Championship--Cedar City, Utah

Game 4 W1 #4 Western Illinois 7 W2 #2 Southern Utah 2

WP-Courtney Jacobson (4-8)

LP-Kristina Brooks (18-23)

Game 5 W3 #3 IPFW 6 L4 #2 Southern Utah 4

Southern Utah Eliminated

Game 6 Championship W4 #4 Western Illinois 17 #3 IPFW 2 (5 inn)

Western Illinois Automatic Bid

Never before in conference history has the No. 4 seeded team won The Summit League Tournament Championship title to advance to the NCAA Regional Tournament until No. 4 Western Illinois defeated No. 3 IPFW, 17-2, Saturday.
Western Illinois recorded 23 hits in the game, starting with a Samantha Valentine double with two outs in the first inning. Nikki Marinec singled to right field to score Valentine and take the first lead, 1-0. Racheal Heagney tripled to score Marinec and Julie DePolo scored Heagney with a single to right field for an early 3-0 lead.

In the top of the second inning, Colleen Biebel scored a run on error and DePolo had a two-run single to left field for another three-run inning.

The Westerwinds scored three more runs in the sixth inning off a pair of singles, taking the lead to 9-0.

Scoreless until the bottom of the sixth, the Mastodons avoided a shutout with two runs off an Abby Liden double to right center.

Up 9-2, Western Illinois recorded nine hits in the seventh inning. With one out, Valentine doubled to right center and Marinec singled to center to score Valentine. A Heagney single pushed Marinec to third and a DePolo triple scored both runners. Britt Mason singled to left field to score DePolo and bring the score to 13-2. Another single and a walk called for a pitching change as the bases were loaded with two outs. Anna Nelson went in to pinch hit for Biebel and doubled to left center to score all three runners. Valentine made her second appearance in the inning with an RBI single to center field for a final score of 17-2.

Nelson and Furgala each had a double, while Valentine had two and Heagney and DePolo both recorded a triple in the game.

Western Illinois pitcher Lori Pankratz (9-12) earned the win with five strikeouts in seven innings, while Amanda Olender suffered the loss with 11 hits allowed and no strikeouts in two innings.

Sun Belt Tournament--Troy, Ala.

Game 15 Championship #1 Louisiana-Lafayette 13 #7 Louisiana-Monroe 0 (5 inn)

WP-Ashley Brignac 5-Hitter

LP-Kandace Causey

Louisiana-Lafayette Automatic Bid

Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns left no doubt in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship game as they blasted ULM 13-0 at the Troy Softball Complex.

The Cajuns tallied 13 runs on 14 hits including three home runs. Five different Ragin’ Cajuns players collected multiple hits in the game. Karli Hubbard (Lafayette, La.) and Holly Tankersley (Kirbyville, Texas) paced all Cajuns’ players with three hits each, while Lana Bowers (Crosby, Texas), Katie Smith (Ruston, La.) and Vanessa Soto (San Diego, Calif.) all collected two hits apiece.

Bowers, Soto and Tankersley each collected home runs in the contest.

In the circle, Ashley Brignac (River Ridge, La.) collected her third victory of the tournament. She worked 5.0 innings surrendering just three hits in the shutout. Brignac fanned five batters en route to being named the SBC Tournament Most Outstanding player.

Other Cajuns named to the All-Tournament team included Gabriele Bridges (Lafitte, La.) and Melissa Verde (Beaumont, Texas). Bridges and Verde both finished the tournament with a record eight RBI.

WAC Championships--Honolulu, Hawai’i

Game 12 W9 #4 Louisiana Tech 2 W11 #1 Nevada 1

WP-Krissy Oliver LP-Jordna McPherson S-Wanda Malone Louisiana Tech Automatic Bids

Louisiana became just the second fourth-seed to capture the WAC Tournament title with a thrilling 2-1 victory over top-seeded Nevada. The Lady Techsters advance to the postseason for the first time since 1995. Tournament MVP Krissi Oliver was solid in the circle and at the plate. Oliver blasted her seventh home run of the season to give the Lady Techsters the lead in the top of the seventh. Oliver also earned the win with Wanda Malone earning the save. Nevada senior Jordan McPherson was stellar for the Wolf Pack allowing only six hits.

NFCA SCOREBOARD (late night wrap)