SALISBURY, MD – The York College softball team saw their
run in the 2009 Capital Athletic Conference come to a 12-inning end
as the Spartans fell to the University of Mary Washington in the
semifinals of the tournament, 2-1 in 12 innings. Both of
York's losses in the tournament came to the Eagles as they
beat the Spartans 3-0 in the second round before handing them
Sunday's heartbreaking loss.
The Eagles improve to 25-15-1 and move on to face top-seeded
Salisbury in the CAC championship. The Spartans fall to 27-12.
The Eagles struck first as they received a Kaitlin Petrella
sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth to take a 1-0 lead.
York wasted little time in tying the game in the top of the
fifth on a Kristen Gray (Mickelton, N.J./Kingsway
Regional) squeeze bunt that scored Kelly Smith
(Riverdale, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) with the tying run.
The two teams would have multiple scoring chances over the next
six innings. The Eagles left runners at second and third in the
bottom of the fifth. The Spartans had the same situation in the
seventh as they could not plate the deciding run either.
The Eagles left the bases loaded in the eighth and that would be
the best scoring chance for either side until Mary Washington was
finally able push across the game winner. The Eagles loaded
the bases with one out and ended the game when Cathy Hull singled
to right, plating the game-winner.
Kirsten Rowell recorded her third win against the Spartans this
year as she allowed one run on 11 hits with 11 strikeouts and three
walks in her 12 innings of work. Rowell improves to 19-6 with the
win.
Sam Koehl (Frederick, Md./Frederick) suffers
the loss as she allowed two runs on eight hits with four walks and
three strikeouts in her 11.1 innings of action. She falls to 14-5
with the setback.
Hull led the Eagles as she was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run
scored. Ashley Davenport was the other Eagle with multiple hits as
she was 2-for-4. Petrella picked up the Eagles other RBI while
pinch runner Nikkoahk Chitty scored a run for UMW.
York received three hits from Caitlin Keppler (Owings,
Md./Northern) and Gray. Keppler was 3-for-4 while Gray was
3-for-3 with York's lone RBI. Smith was 2-for-5 with a run
scored while Heather Bormann (Brick, N.J./Brick
Memorial) added a pair of safeties in the game.
The Spartans ended the contest with 13 runners stranded while the
Eagles left 10 runners on base.
The Spartans now look to end the season strong as they have six
remaining regular season games. That six game stretch starts on
Wednesday as they host Messiah College in a double dip starting at
3:00 pm.
GAME BOX
Photo: Caitlin Keppler banged out three hits in the Spartans'
loss on Sunday.
