EMU Earns Automatic Bid to NCAA Tournament
SALEM, Va. --- It was in 1990 that the Royals
captured the program's first ODAC softball crown. Then known
as Eastern Mennonite College, the Royals turned a fourth-seed
showing in a field of four teams into the first ever championship
in ODAC softball history. It would be two decades and another
final seed positioning before the Royals would taste championship
victory again.
Eastern Mennonite University made the 20th anniversary of the ODAC
Softball Tournament feel much like the first event as the Royals
topped Virginia Wesleyan College, 5-1, to claim the 2010 title and
earn the ODAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Softball
Tournament. Eighth-seeded EMU saw its record improve to 19-16
while the #3 Marlins fell to 34-9.
EMU head coach J.D. McCurdy pulled out all the stops in trying to
avoid a date in the "if necessary" championship game, and the
pitching duo of Lisa Lee and Nicole Wade kept VWC off-balance in
leading to a victory over ODAC wins leader, Brittaney Brown
(25-8).
The Royals' bats started off the game in strong fashion with two
singles followed by an error by the centerfielder when a fly ball
popped out of her glove in short center. Courtney Allman
walked to drive in the first run, and another followed when the VWC
catcher tried to complete a 1-2-3 double play, but her throw sailed
into the baseline and glanced off the helmet of EMU's Sara
Jenkins. Allman and Jamie Blosser later scored on a single to
left by Rachel Breeden to give the Royals a 4-0 lead through
one-half inning.
Virginia Wesleyan got one back in the bottom of the frame.
Brenae Pettit went from first-to-third on a single to right by
Jaclyn Quinn. With runners on second and third following
Quinn's advancement on the throw to third, Brianna Bertovich drove
in Pettit with a groundout to second.
Eastern Mennonite tacked on an insurance run in the fifth
inning. Lee led off the frame with her second hit of the
game, a deep fly to center that eluded the grasp of Pettit in
center field for a solo homer.
Virginia Wesleyan, who had been silenced over the past four innings
by Wade, threatened to extend play in the bottom of the
seventh. Lee, back on the mound to try to close out the
contest, gave up a single to White and walked the bases loaded to
bring the tying run to the plate with two outs. Wade retook
the ball to face Morgan Stephens, who sent a grounder back up the
middle. Wade made the quick reaction stop at her right and
fired home to force White at the plate and secure the Royals'
championship.
Wade picked up the win to give her three for the tournament on the
way to Most Outstanding Player honors. She went 4.1 innings,
giving up two hits and walking three while striking out a
pair. For VWC, Brown took the loss and fell to 25-8.
She allowed five runs, one earned, on eight hits. She walked
two and struck out a pair.
EMU's next contest will be in the 2010 NCAA Division III Softball
Tournament at one of eight regional sites across the nation.
Play will start on Thursday, May 13 (eight-team sites) or Friday,
May 14 (six-team sites) and will follow a double-elimination
format. Filling out of sites and at-large teams will be made
following the weekend of May 7-9. For more information on the
national tournament and its process, visit the NCAA D-III Softball
Championship website at http://www.ncaa.com/sports/w-softbl/champpage/w-softbl-div3-index.html.
Listed below is the 2010 ODAC Softball All-Tournament Team.
For more information on ODAC softball, visit any of the
participating schools' websites, or to go to the ODAC's home on the
Internet at www.odaconline.com.
2010 ODAC Softball All-Tournament Team
Pitcher: Brittaney Brown, Virginia Wesleyan
Catcher: Jaclyn Quinn, Virginia Wesleyan
1st Base: Laura Bauer, Randolph-Macon
2nd Base: Kristy White, Virginia Wesleyan
3rd Base: Paige Smith, Randolph-Macon
Shortstop: Taylor Walker, Lynchburg
Outfield: Jessica Blosser, Eastern Mennonite
Outfield: Sarah Montgomery, Randolph
Outfield: Aven Thomas, Bridgewater
Designated Player: Lisa Lee, Eastern Mennonite
Most Outstanding Player: Nicole Wade, Eastern Mennonite