#1 Louisiana College 3, #4 Cortland State 1

Lady Wildcats Score Three Runs in Third

May 17, 2008

 

SALEM, Va. --- Louisiana College had a deciding third inning where they tallied five hits and scored three of their four runs to defeat Cortland State in the 2008 NCAA Division III Softball Championship. 

 

The first  Lady Wildcat run was scored off of a single to right field by Erica Harwell.  Next, Amber Thomas hit a single that drove in two Lady Wildcat base runners to make the score 3-0.

 

Louisiana College pitcher, Kelly Williams, threw a complete-game shutout allowing just five hits and one run while fanning seven batters.

 

“I thought it was a big win for us in a big game," said Louisiana head coach, Tim Whitman.  "Kelly [Williams] pitched well all game as she got out of a little bind in the first inning and then we had some key hits.”

 

Cortland State was led offensively by Donnalyn Cross who went 2-for-3 at the plate.  The Red Dragons only score of the night came in the sixth inning when Emily Ringen popped out to center field, allowing for Cross to score.

 

Katie Fitch pitched six innings for Cortland State and gave up six hits and three runs while striking out four batters.

 

“I thought we came out aggressive.  We certainly put them on their heels a little bit and it would have been great to score.  We just didn’t do it early and then we had a hard time adjusting to the pitcher a little bit," said head coach of Cortland, Julie Lenhart.

 

Louisiana College (44-5) advances to play Sunday at 6:30 p.m. against the winner of the #3 UW-Eau Claire and #7 Muskingum game.  Cortland State (39-12) will take on #6 Ithaca at Noon on Sunday.