Late Comeback Seals Win for Pride
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. --- In a battle of lion-like
mascots, the Eastern Mennonite Royals took on the Greensboro
College Pride in the loser's bracket at the Newport News Regional
of the NCAA National Softball Championships. EMU took an early lead
but had hopes of an NCAA win dashed when the Pride scored five in
the bottom of the sixth to steal a 7-3 decision. The loss knocks
EMU out of the NCAA tournament.
After a quiet first two innings, the Royals broke through in the
top of the third, Jessica
Sullivan (Midlothian, Va./Manchester) led off with a
walk and EMU loaded the bases with bunt singles
from Rachel Breeden (Shenandoah,
Va./Page County) and pitcher Nicole
Wade (Madison Heights, Va./Liberty Christian
Academy). Two runs scored on sacrifice flies, and Lisa
Lee(Buckingham, Va./Buckingham) plated a third with an RBI
double to give the Royals a 3-0 lead.
The Pride got their first run in the bottom of the frame, loading
the bases without a hit and scoring with a sacrifice fly.
Greensboro scored again in fifth, aided by a pair of walks and a
slowly hit groundout, to get within 3-2.
Eastern Mennonite looked to add some insurance in the sixth,
as Nicole Shelton (Richmond, Va./Mills
E. Godwin) and Sara Jenkins (Stanley,
Va./Page County) hit one-out singles. But a double play erased the
threat and left the edge at one.
After chipping out single runs earlier in the game, Greensboro
finally broke out in the bottom of the sixth. A one-out double
started a rally that finally ended after three hits, two errors and
a hit batsman. When the dust settled, the Pride had scored five
runs to take their first lead of the game, 7-3.
In the Royals' final at-bat they threatened with two
outs. Jessica Blosser (Crimora, Va./Wilson
Memorial) singled and Brittany
Caricofe (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) reached on
an error. But Lee popped out for the final out, ending the game and
the season.
Wade (10-7) went the distance on the mound and took the loss. She
allowed just four hits in six innings, but also walked three
batters and was charged with five earned runs.
The Royals outhit Greensboro, 7-4, and were led by Shelton's 2-3
day. Blosser and Lee each had a hit and an RBI. Caricofe had the
other RBI.
Eastern Mennonite ends the year with a 19-18 record, including the
program's first NCAA national appearance. With the postseason
surge, the Royals finish with their sixth consecutive winning
season in Coach J.D. McCurdy's seven years.
This release is courtesy of the Eastern Mennonite
University sports information department.