AMHERST, MA - Saint Joseph's (33-9, 23-3 GNAC) saw its 2012 season come to an end with a 5-4 extra-inning loss at the hands of the Keuka College Storm (23-12, 18-2 NEAC) in an elimination game at the 2012 NCAA Softball Regional at Amherst College on Friday afternoon.
With the score tied 4-4 with one out in the bottom of the ninth, junior right fielder Brittany Smyder (Avon, N.Y.) singled up the middle and would come around to score the game-winning run when the following batter, sophomore pitcher Danielle Gravel (Sidney, N.Y.), doubled to right-center.
The Monks rattled off 15 hits as eight players notched at least one hit and six delivered repeat-hitter performances on the afternoon. The offensive onslaught was not enough however, as the Royal Blue stranded nine runners and tied a season-high by committing five fielding errors in the season-ending setback.
Turning in a complete game, Gravel improved to 18-5, allowing four runs on 15 hits, while Rae-Marie Copan (Newton, Mass.), who relieved starter Theresa Hendrix (Scarborough, Maine/Cheverus) in the fifth, took the loss, giving up one run on two hits in four innings of work. Hendrix allowed four runs (one earned) off five hits with two K's in 4.1 innings.
Gravel and Katie Evangelista (Geneva, N.Y.) each doubled in the win as seven different Keuka players recorded a hit. Kim Jordan (Bangor, Maine) paced the St. Joe's lineup, going 2-4 with a homer and two RBI. Heather Tripp (Lovell, Maine), Lindsay Moore (Barrington, N.H.), Danyelle Shufelt (Sutton, Vt.) and Maddie Kluna (Standish, Maine) also recorded a pair of hits apiece, while senior center fielder Emily Leverone (Hampton, N.H.) went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored in the losing effort.
Scoreless in the bottom of the second, junior second baseman Terin Brown (Wayland, N.Y.) hoped to kick-start a Keuka rally by drawing a two-out walk. Trying to get out of the inning, Hendrix got Smyder to lift a fly ball into left center, but an error or the play allowed a hustling Brown to come all the way around from first.
Looking to answer in the top of the third, Kluna and Jordan led off with consecutive singles before advancing on a fielder's choice. Hoping to pitch out of a jam, Gravel bore down, forcing Connie Grovo (Limington, Maine) to ground out to short and Leverone to pop out to first, effectively ending the threat.
With Keuka tacking on another run in the bottom of the third on another SJC error, Hendrix looked to help her own cause, roping a two-out double into the right centerfield gap, but Gravel settled down, getting Maria Labbe (Lewiston, Maine) to line out to momentarily preserve the Storm's two-run cushion.
Continuing to go on the offensive, Kluna singled to lead-off the fifth, setting the plate for Jordan, who belted a game-tying two run shot to left field. Wasting no time responding, Keuka rallied with two runs of its own in the bottom of the frame.
Leading off with a double down the left field line, Evangelista put the go-ahead run in scoring position for Jessica Bandrowski (Center Moriches, N.Y.), who laced an RBI single to center to put the Storm back on top. Advancing to second on an error before moving to third on an Elly Disbrow (Penn Yan, N.Y.) sacrifice, Bandrowski looked to be caught in a rundown halfway down the third baseline, but was able to come home on yet another Saint Joseph's miscue.
With the Monks putting the tying run on with two outs in the top of the seventh, Tripp legged out an infield hit to short, bringing St. Joe's within one. Hoping to pull the Monks even, Moore tallied another infield hit to suddenly tie things up at 4-4.
Looking to jump-start a rally with one out in the bottom of the ninth, Smyder singled up the middle to put a runner aboard. Needing a big base-knock, Gravel roped a ball into the right centerfield gap that rolled to the wall, allowing Smyder to come in from first to end the game.
The loss signals the end of collegiate softball for the Monks' four seniors: Kluna, Labbe, Leverone and Caitlin Schrum (Littleton, N.H.). The quartet ushered in one of the finest eras in program history, as St. Joe's posted a stellar 129-43 (.750) record with two GNAC titles, two NCAA Tournament appearances and an ECAC Tournament berth over the last four seasons.
COURTESY OF AMHERST COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION
Saint Joseph's College, founded in 1912 by the Sisters of Mercy, celebrates its Centennial year in 2012 with a theme of "Realize the Promise" – honoring our commitment to educating well-rounded graduates who combine career focus with classic liberal arts studies. A Private, Catholic, primarily residential, coeducational liberal arts institution, Saint Joseph's welcomes students of all ages and all faiths. The campus, located 18 miles northwest of Portland and just two hours from Boston, encompasses 350 acres along the shore of beautiful Sebago Lake in Standish, Maine. Enrollment ranges between 1,000 and 1,100 students annually. Saint Joseph's offers challenging academic programs in the liberal arts and sciences, education, nursing and business fields in a value-centered environment.
