COLLEGE MAY 11 2008

TDhe Hokies faced a tough competitor in the Wolf Pack, upset winners in the semi-finals over #1 seed North Carolina – and some calls by RF umpire Diane Beasley whmichm had Tech xfans yelling.—including four illegal pitch calls against Tincher vs the first four batters.

Tech was swinging hard. Campana sruck out Rhodes for the first out of the game, but Ota singled to left. Mariconda lined out; Hall walked, and Hoffman singled to center. BBut, Everhart looked at a third strike. Un daunted, Tincher struck out the side.

Walker opened the 2^nd with a single, and advanced on a sac by Davis. Zitt fanned. With two out, Rhodes beat out a bunt back to Campana. Ota slahed a hard grounder to short which Smith couldn’t handle (error) and two runs scored. Ota was called for leaving early. Tincher walked Cooper but the next three Satte batters went down, two on strikes.

The 3^rd was une3ventful for both teams. After three, Tincher had 7 Ks, Campana 4.

The 4^th gave Tech a scoring opportunity. Walker collected her second hit, a single to right. Davis fanned but Zitt walked on a 3-2 count. Rhodes second hit was a bloop which dropped ion front of short d—bases loaded. Ota smashed a line drive which Smith reached and caught to end the threat. State went down in order.

The Tech 5^th mirrored the 4^th – the Hokies again stranded three runners. After Mariconda grou8nd out, Hall beat out an infield hit to 3^rd. Hoffman doubled to center. Everhart struck out. Walker drewa pass on a 3-1 count. Davis, a.192 hitter, brought Tech fans to their feet with a high drive to center which Harkey caught at the fence. Presnell opened the State 5^th with a solid double, the first hit off Tincher. Tincher struck out the next two batters and Peters ground out to short.

After Tech went down in order in the top 7^th, Allbritten led the bottom half with a double – the second hit off Tincher. Tech boosters were mindful of all those stranded Tech runners. Cooper popped to short for the first out. Presnell, who had that first out, looked at a third strike (#14). Bechtholt popped up to catcher Hoffman – and Virginia Tech became the fist ACC team (other tha Florida State) to win consecutive titles – and the NCAA berth.

ACC Championship--College Park, Md. (Slight Chance of Showers, 66) Tournament Page

Game 15 Championship #2 Virginia Tech 2 #5 North Carolina State 0

WP-Angela Tincher (33-6) 2-Hitter 14 K's

LP-Lindsey Campana (19-18)

Virginia Tech Automatic Bid (see story above)

Big 12 Championship--Oklahoma City, Okla. (Mostly Sunny, 76) Tournament Page

Game 9 Champioship #1 Texas A&M 5 #10 Nebraska 0

WP-Megan Gibson (33-1) 3-Hitter

LP-Molly Hill (15-17)

Texas A&M Automatic Bid

Top-seeded Texas A&M defeated No. 10 seed Nebraska, 5-0, to earn its first-ever Big 12 Championship title. The Aggies became the first squad since Nebraska in 2004 to win both the regular season and postseason crowns.

The Aggies used three consecutive singles to plate the game's first run in the bottom of the second inning. A&M took a 2-0 lead when Macie Morrow's pop up fell for a single as NU shortstop Whitney Barrett got tangled up with Jami Lobpries at second base.

Texas A&M found the scoreboard again in the bottom of the fourth. Once again, three consecutive singles opened the frame and led to the inning's first run. An error and a fielder's choice where no out was recorded figured into the Aggies loading the bases with no outs. A wild pitch brought home the runner from third and gave A&M a 4-0 lead. The Huskers then recorded an out at home before Gibson had an RBI ground out to give the Aggies their final margin of victory.

A&M All-American Megan Gibson earned her third victory of the tournament while improving to 33-1 on the season. The Championship's Most Outstanding Player, Gibson tossed a three-hit shutout, her 16th of the season, in beating the Huskers for the third time this year. The senior threw Junior right-hander Molly Hill (15-17) took the loss for Nebraska. Starting her fourth game in less than 45 hours, Hill allowed five runs on 10 hits in six innings. Sophomore right-hander Alex Hupp tossed a scoreless inning to close out the game.

The Aggies had a program-best four student-athletes on the All-Tournament Team, highlighted by Gibson's most outstanding player honor. The Huskers also had four on the team while Texas Tech earned two spots. Baylor, Iowa State and Oklahoma all had one student-athlete honored.

CAA Championships--Hempstead, N.Y. (Slight Chance of Showers, 68) Tournament Page

Game 6 Championship W5 #1 Hofstra 3 W3 #3 James Madison 1 (11 inn)

WP-Kayleigh Lotti (20-5)

LP-Mereidth Felts (17-9)

Hof-Courtney Oliver Game-Ending 2-Run HR

Game 7 #1 Hofstra 3 #3 James Madison 0

WP-Kayleigh Lotti (21-5) 1-Hitter

LP-Jenny Clohan (10-8) 3-Hitter

Hofstra Automatic Bid

Top-seeded Hofstra earned its seventh Colonial Athletic Association Softball Championship with a 3-0 victory over third-seeded James Madison on Sunday afternoon.

The win came after a 3-1, 11-inning Pride victory in game one of the championship on Sunday. Hofstra has now won 11 straight conference championships dating back to its membership with the America East Conference. The Pride improved to 43-11, which ties a school record with 2005 for wins in a season. The Dukes fall to 32-22.

The Pride scored all three runs they would need in the third inning. With two runners on, Courtney Oliver, who scored the game winning two-run walk-off homer in the first championship game, reached second on an error by the Dukes’ left fielder Brittney Dyson in turn allowing both Sara Michalowski and Kris Root to score two runs for the Pride. Oliver scored on a Michele DePasquale RBI single to up the score 3-0.

Kayleigh Lotti continued in the circle for the Pride, extending a continuous streak of 25 innings since yesterday’s elimination game against Towson. The junior tossed 18 innings for Hofstra today, including a complete game in the championship title game. She improved her record to 21-5 on the season. Lotti gave up only one hit, struck out two and walked two in the finale.

Jenny Clohan (10-8) tossed seven innings for the Dukes in the final contest, giving up three unearned runs on three hits. She walked one and struck out four Hofstra batters.

Lotti was selected as the championship’s Most Outstanding Performer for her top performance during Hofstra’s five games. She was joined by teammates Oliver, Carolann Lubach and Pam Dreslinski. Also named to the All-Tournament team were James Madison’s Kaitlyn Wernsing, Brittney Dyson and Meredith Felts, Towson’s Aimee Rosa and Stef Streets and Georgia State’s Catherine Lee and Rachel Cunningham.

Hofstra receives CAA’s automatic bid and will find out their destination tonight on the NCAA’s Softball selection show at 10 p.m. on ESPNU.

MAAC Championships--Stratford, Conn. (Slight Chance of Showers, 63) Tournament Page

Game 6 Championship W3 #1 Canisius 8 W5 #4 Marist 0 (5 inn)

WP-Juliette Bowers (20-1)

LP-Megen Rigos (18-16)

Canisius Automatic Bid

Canisius College (38-12) earned the league’s automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Division I Softball Championship with a 8-0 victory over Marist College (24-30), in the title game of the 2008 MAAC Softball Championship at Alumni Softball Field on the campus of Fairfield University.

Canisius made its mark on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning as Most Outstanding Player Katie Miranto tripled to left center, followed by designated hitter Michelle Fridey sending the ball deep over the left field wall to give the Golden Griffins a 2-0 lead.

The Griffs then added three more runs in the third, as Cameron Norton knocked a two-RBI single to center field and Fridey scored when Emily Helbig reached first on a fielding error.

Canisius plated three more in the bottom of the fourth as Lauren Hope slapped the ball down the first base line to allow Angela Turrey to reach home and Miranto sent a two-RBI single to right field, bringing home Jenny Maheu and Hope.

Canisius’ Juliette Bowers improved to 20-1 with the win. Marist’s Megan Rigos finished the year at 18-16 on the mound.

NEC Tournament--Brooklyn, N.Y. (Partly Sunny, 64) Tournament Page

Game 5 W3 #2 Robert Morris 4 L4 #3 Saint Francis 3 (10 inn)

WP-Brenna Reed (13-10)

LP-Laura Caldwell (14-20)

Saint Francis Eliminated

Six-time Northeast Conference champion Robert Morris advances to the 2008 Northeast Conference softball championship game after a dramatic, 4-3, 10-inning win over instate rival Saint Francis (PA). Freshman Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, OH/Kenston) helped the Colonials secure a spot in the final with a pair of home runs, including a solo shot in the top of the tenth that put RMU back on top for good.

Senior Brenna Reed (Carnegie, PA/Montour) picked up the win for the Colonials after replacing freshman Lindsey Moates (Ocala, FL/Forest), who allowed just one run through her first seven innings before surrendering a two runs during a Red Flash rally in the bottom of the eighth. Junior hurler Laura Caldwell (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) pitched all 10 innings for the Red Flash in the loss, allowing four runs on 12 hits while striking out nine.

Game 6 Championship W4 #1 Long Island 2 W5 #2 Robert Morris 1

WP-Blaire Porter (20-8) 3-Hitter

LP-Lindsey Moates (15-6)

Long Island Automatic Bid

Long Island captured an unprecedented 11th league title with a 2-1 win over second-seeded Robert Morris. NEC Tournament MVP Blaire Porter (Redmond, WA/Redmond) went the distance for the Blackbirds, allowing just one run on three hits. The Redmond, WA native finished the tournament 3-0 with a 1.56 ERA. Robert Morris starter Lindsey Moates (Ocala, FL/Forest), an Akadema/NEC All-Tournament Team selection, allowed two runs on eight hits in six innings of work. Scoreless through five, Long Island broke the deadlock in the bottom of the sixth. Senior first baseman Vanessa Mejia (Roanoke, VA/Northside) and Akadema/NEC All-Tournament team honoree Brittany Murphy (Los Alamitos, CA/Los Alamitos) began the inning with a pair of singles. A fielding error on junior Kristin McDaniel (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury) on LIU’s Raylene Asman’s (Escondido, CA/Escondido) ground ball to second allowed Mejia to score, while Murphy advanced to second. Freshman Ayzsha Ervin (Oceanside, CA/Vista), an Akadema/NEC All-Tournament awardee, then hit a sacrifice fly to center, putting the Blackbirds up 2-0. The Colonials would finally break through in the top of the seventh when senior left fielder Camile Kline’s (Titusville, PA/Titusville) hit a two-out solo home run to center, but Porter would quickly shut the door, getting McDaniel to ground out to second to end the game. For their efforts Robert Morris senior Brenna Reed (Carnegie, PA/Montour) and freshman Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, OH/Kenston) were named to the Akadema/NEC All-Tournament team. The duo combined for eight RBIs and four runs scored in RMU’s four tournament games. Also named to the Akadema/NEC All-Tournament team were Saint Francis’ (PA) Laura Caldwell (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) and Nicole Waligora (Johnstown, PA/Westmont Hilltop) and Wagner senior Katie Stevens (Reno, NV/Wooster). The Blackbirds will advance to the NCAA Tournament against an opponent to be announced on ESPNews on Sunday, May 11 at 10:00 pm.

Patriot Tournament--Bethlehem, Pa. (Slight Chance of Showers, 70) Tournament Page

Game 6 Championship W5 #2 Lafayette 2 W3 #1 Lehigh 1

WP-Ali Henry (12-10)

LP-Lisa Sweeney (24-4)

Game 7 #1 Lehigh 10 #2 Lafayette 3

WP-Lisa Sweeney (13-10)

LP-Kasey Karr (11-9)

Lehigh Automatic Bid

Lehigh won the Patriot League Softball Championship for the ninth time in program history and for the fourth time in the last five years with a 10-3 victory as the top seed over second-seeded Lafayette. The Leopards forced a second game on Sunday at Kaufman Field with a 2-1 win against the Mountain Hawks. With the championship win Lehigh received the Patriot League's automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

Lafayette (27-24, 13-7 PL) won the first game of the day, 2-1, with Ali Henry pitching a complete game and not giving up a single earned run. Lehigh's lone run of the game came from Taryn Hanley who crossed the plate on a throwing error in the top of the fourth inning.

The Leopards quickly came back in the bottom of the fourth with two runs as Kerry Griffin doubled to leftfield to score Kasey Karr and Christina Giambrone.

Lisa Sweeney was in the circle for Lehigh and allowed just three hits over six innings of work. She fanned seven batters.

Lehigh (38-15-1, 14-6 PL) turned it around in the championship contest and exploded for 10 runs. After Lafayette scored a run in the top of the first off a Kristen Ruckno sacrifice fly, Lehigh put up three runs in the bottom of the frame. Alisha Gonzales, Alex Cueva and Carly Potock all scored unearned runs due to an error by Lafayette.

Lafayette tied it up in the very next inning, 3-3. Stacey Kushner singled to centerfield, which allowed Sara Price and Kristin Garganio to score.

Over the next two innings, Lehigh scored five unanswered runs with two in the bottom if the second and three in the third. Cueva singled to right field to provide two RBI in the second and drove in another run in the third off a double. Kate Marvel and Potock each had a RBI single in the third.

Lehigh made it 10-3 in the bottom of the sixth by tacking on two more runs. Megan Conrad had a sacrifice fly to score Hanley and Marvel doubled to drive in pinch runner Mickey LaValley.

Sweeney improved to 3-1 in the Patriot League Tournament to garner MVP honors, pitching all 25 of Lehigh's innings. In the championship win, Sweeney only gave up one earned run and posted eight strikeouts. For the tournament, she had 37 strikeouts which is a Patriot League Tournament record. This MVP honor is the second in Sweeney's career, having also won it in 2006. She is just the second softball player in League history to be named MVP twice. Lehigh's Meri Wall shared the honors in 1993 and won them outright in 1994.

Potock went 4-for-5 in the 10-3 victory with one RBI and two runs. Cueva posted a team-high three RBI and scored one run, while Lowe batted in two. Marvel had a 3-for-5 day with a pair of RBI and a pair of runs.

For Lafayette, Kushner had two RBI and Ruckno had the other. Karr was saddled with the loss, lasting just 1.1 innings. Henry took over in the circle for Karr.