Linfield Moves on to Semis with Win Over DePauw

Offense Stays on Track in Second Shutout

May 19, 2007  -  Box Score

SALEM, Va. --- Linfield College (42-6) marched into the semifinals on Saturday afternoon, recording its second shutout with a 9-0 victory over DePauw University (37-6) in the seventh game of the 2007 NCAA Division III Softball Championships.  Linfield will take on Washington University-St. Louis on Sunday at 5:00 p.m.  DePauw must falls down to the lower part of the bracket to face Plattsburgh State University at 12:00 p.m. tomorrow.

“We started off a little bit slower than we would have liked, but we were able to score some runs the hard way,” explained Linfield head coach Jackson Vaughan.  “We got some two-out base hits and that was nice. Candice Fujino came up with some big hits for us, and Stephanie Rice at the top of the order was all over the place today in terms of making plays.”

Linfield jumped on the board early with a run in the top of the first.  Stephanie Rice started things off with the first of her three hits, singling to left field.  She advanced to second on an illegal pitch by DePauw hurler Megan Soultz.  Rice came home two outs later on a single through the left side by Jena Loop.

The Wildcats tacked on two more in the third inning.  Rice reached on an error and stole second, then moved up to third when Jenny Marshall reached on an error by the first baseman.  Marshall stole second to put two runners in scoring position.  Again with two outs and DePauw nearly off the hook, Amanda Attleberger singled to left to bring in both runners, but was thrown out at second trying while trying to move up on the throw.

Rice drove in Linfield’s fifth run in the fourth inning.  With one down, Lisa Smith walked and Candice Fujino doubled to put two more runners within 120 feet of home.  After Rochelle Friend fouled out, Rice came through with another two-out hit to bring in Smith.

Linfield put the game out of reach in the sixth inning, scoring five times on six hits.  Rice picked up her second RBI on a single to left, and Marshall and Meredith Brunette followed suit to drive in the second and third runs, respectively.  Loop hit a sacrifice fly to record her seventh RBI of the tournament, and Erica Hancock plated the final run with a single back up the middle.

Brittany Miller picked up her second shutout victory of the championship, going all six innings to improve to 22-4.  She gave up three hits, walked one and struck out six.  Soultz took the loss for DePauw, falling to 19-4.  She gave up nine runs, four earned, on 13 hits in six innings of work.  She fanned two and walked one.

“Linfield is a strong opponent and they played well today, so we give them credit,” added DePauw head coach Bonnie Skrenta.  “Tough day for DePauw, but it’s alright to be here to play and learn.  We’ll regroup as a team and get back to what we need to do to get back on the board offensively.”