Plattsburgh Downs DePauw to Move on to Quarters

Error, Connors Single Scores Winning Run in Eighth

May 20, 2007  -  Box Score

SALEM, Va. --- Plattsburgh State University (37-13) pushed a run across in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat DePauw University (37-7) by a score of 2-1 to move on to the lower bracket quarterfinals in the 2007 NCAA Division III Softball Championship.  Plattsburgh State will take on the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. for a chance to earn a spot into the national title game on Monday.  DePauw was eliminated from the tournament with its second loss.

Kirby Davids got things started in the eighth inning for the Cardinals by reaching on an error by the DePauw third baseman.  Amy Woo was hit by a pitch to move Davids up to second, and she was nearly doubled off second a batter later when Jenn Nescio lined out to shortstop.  Shannon Connors followed with a single back up the middle to bring around Davids for the winning run.

“Usually during the year with our pitching the way it is, I feel comfortable being up a run, but they’re a good offensive team, so I give them a lot of credit and I give our girls a lot of credit for coming back and holding the ship together,” explained Plattsburgh head coach Sean Cotter.  “Steph came in and really held us there.  Shannon’s catch, if that didn’t happen, her opportunity doesn’t happen for us.  Her catch in right field really saved us there in the seventh and gave her am opportunity to hit in the eighth.”

Stephanie Zweig earned the win in relief for Plattsburgh, improving to 16-7 on the season.  She walked one of the three batters she faced in her 0.2 innings of work.  Jaclyn Leitze went the first 7.1 innings for the Cardinals, allowing one run on four hits while striking out five.

Megan Soultz took the loss for DePauw, falling to 19-5 on the year.  She gave up two runs, one earned, on seven hits in 7.2 innings of work.  She fanned five batters.

Plattsburgh State broke open a scoreless tie with a run in the bottom of the fourth.  Connors led off with an infield single.  Kelly Combs pinch ran for Connors and moved to second on a ground out by Ashley Napear.  Danielle Gjergji followed with a double to left-center to bring in the run for a 1-0 Cardinal lead.

DePauw came through with a run in the top of the seventh to force extra innings.  Rachel Gill started things off with a single to left, and was lifted for pinch runner Annie Morgan.  Kaitlyn Davitt advanced her to second with a sacrifice bunt, and a single to center by Carolyn Bartlett put runners at the corners.  Lauren Rees recorded the RBI on the next at bat with a high flyball to center.

“It was a really tough game and I’m really proud of the girls for fighting back there in the bottom of the seventh to tie it up ad give us a chance to stay and play some more innings,” mentioned DePauw head coach Bonnie Skrenta.  “We knew today would be a battle.”