NEWTON, MA - Top-seeded Emerson College (32-7, 22-3
GNAC) was crowned as the 2009 GNAC Softball Champions after edging
#2 seed Saint Joseph's (28-12, 18-6), 2-1, on Sunday afternoon in
the conference title game at Mount Ida College. Lady Monks starting
pitcher Kiera Walsh (So., Benton,
Maine) surrendered five hits and two earned runs with three
strikeouts in the loss.
Bridget Farago (Jr., Oneonta, N.Y.) delivered a two-out single in
the bottom of the seventh inning to score Jilisa Rawding (So.,
Tewksbury, Mass.) and give Emerson College a come from behind 2-1
victory over St. Joe's. The win gives the Lions their second GNAC
Championship in the past three seasons and qualifies Emerson for
the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament that begins May 9 at
a site to be determined.
Farago's single followed a single to centerfield by Rawding. Catie
McDonough (Sr., North Adams, Mass.) dropped down a sacrifice bunt
to move Rawding to second. Rawding took third on a passed ball and
easily scored as Farago's hit was lined down the left field
line.
Saint Joseph's scored first in the tight pitchers' duel between
Walsh and Emerson's Kelsey Tuthill (FY,
Middletown, Conn.). In the top of the fourth inning the Lady Monks'
Anna Willis (Jr., Gorham, Maine)
had a one out single and advanced to second on a
Emily Leverone (FY, Hampton,
N.H.) single. Liddy van der Linden (Jr.,
Worcester, Mass.) then walked to load the bases.
Alyssa Dunn (So., Standish,
Maine) singled to center to plate Willis. A fielder's choice that
forced Leverone at the plate and a strikeout halted the inning.
Emerson got the run back in the bottom of the sixth inning as Lynn
Herman (So., Boca Raton, Fla.) singled through the right side and
advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sierra Wood (So., Torrance,
Calif.) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Herman to third.
Brittany Martin (So., Las Vegas, Nev.) followed with a sacrifice
fly to right field scoring Herman.
Emerson survived a scare in the Saint Joseph's seventh when with
one out Jillian Kimball (Jr.,
Albany Township, Maine) reached on an error by Tuthill and advanced
to second on the throw. Pinch hitter Maria
Labbe (FY, Lewiston, Maine) lined a hard shot to
left field on which Emerson's Megan Kaye (Sr., Miami, Fla.) made a
running catch and perfect throw to double Kimball
off at second and end the threat.
Tuthill was named the Tournament's most valuable player giving up
only four runs in 21 innings pitched.
Dunn, Willis and
Christy Wezowicz '10 (Granville,
MA) were named to the All-Tournament Team.
MAJOR PORTIONS CONTRIBUTED BY EMERSON SPORTS INFORMATION