Kressel’s Homer Pushes Wash-U into Semifinals

Extra-Innings Pitchers’ Duel Ends in Dramatic Fashion

May 19, 2007  -  Box Score

SALEM, Va. --- Washington University-St. Louis third baseman Jamie Kressel broke up a 0-0 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Bears (34-5) a 1-0 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (36-13) in the eighth game of the 2007 NCAA Division III Softball Championship.  Washington U. moves on to play Linfield College in the winners’ bracket semifinals at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.  UW-Eau Claire falls to the lower bracket and will play Emory University at 2:30 p.m.

Kressel put an end to what was by far the closest game of the championship.  Washington University pitcher Laurel Sagartz and UW-Eau Claire hurler Mallory McKinney kept both teams off the scoreboard through regulation play.  Kressel led off the eighth inning with the game-winning blast, her 11^th homer of the season.

“You know, I just got lucky,” mentioned Kressel.  “Honestly, I think I just closed my eyes and swung as hard as I could.  I was just trying to get a solid hit on the ball as I know that the other eight girls (in the line-up) could have driven me in if I was on base.  I was just trying to play my role on the team.”

Both pitchers were excellent in the circles.  Sagartz, now 2-0 for the championship, gave up three runs in her eight innings of work.  She stuck out 11 and did not walk a batter.  McKinney was nearly as good for the Blugolds, giving up six hits and walking three in seven-plus innings of work.  She fanned nine batters.

“I think it’s always hard to lose in the bottom of the inning especially on a homerun,” commented UW-Eau Claire head coach Leslie Huntington.  “But I think looking at the big picture it was just a great game and you almost had to feel that it was going to happen at the end of the game.”

Both teams had plenty of chances to score, but the UW-Eau Claire seemed on the doorstep twice in the top of the seventh.  Michelle Butkus and Jill Janke led off the inning with singles to left field.  Mandy Tschernach popped up her bunt attempt in foul ground on the right side and Bears’ first baseman Kaylyn Eash made a diving catch for a big out.  Washington U. gave the out right back as the third baseman had Shannon Barone’s sacrifice bunt attempt slide off the tip of her glove to load the bases.  Bekki Kidnie followed with a hard bouncer back up the middle that Sagartz snared at ear-level and started a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning.

“Luckily the gray hairs were first established at regional tournament,” explained Washington University head coach Leticia Pineda-Boutte.  “We had a couple innings like that, so I wasn’t as nervous as I was at the regionals just because we had gone through it before, so I had confidence in the team.”

Karli Stander had two hits for the Bears’ offense and also stole her fourth base of the season.  Janke collected two of the Blugolds three hits.