Roanoke Awaits Position in NCAA Division III Tournament
SALEM, Va. --- The Roanoke College
softball team won its eighth ODAC Championship on Sunday, defeating
Bridgewater College, 7-2, in the title game. The Maroons rise
to a record of 29-9 for the season, while the Eagles finish the
year with a record of 33-12.
With this victoy, Roanoke earns the ODAC's automatic qualifier to
the NCAA Division III Tournament. Team selections will be
made on Sunday, May 6, with the announcement of the tournament
field set for Monday, May 7 via live Internet broadcast. Time
of that show has yet to be determined. Monitor www.ncaa.com and www.ncaa.com/liveschedule for that announcement.
The Maroons came out hot as they put three runs on the board in
the first inning. Leona Rainey and Alea
Bier both hit doubles to start the inning, then Stephanie
Clark singled, plating both Rainey and
Bier. Caitlin Manuel reached on an error, where
Clark scored off the mistake. After one, Roanoke led 3-0.
Bridgewater crossed the plate once in the third as Kasey Anderson
scored off a Melanie Lamb single, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
But the Maroons answered in the bottom of the inning as Kelly
Higbie laid down a bunt scoring Clark from third to put the
Maroons ahead, 4-1, after three.
Roanoke continued its scoring in the fourth inning as they tallied
two more runs. Rainey scored off a Clark RBI single and
Lowery hit an RBI single that scored Clark from third. After
four, the Maroons were ahead 6-1.
The Eagles continued to work to put runs on the board as Hillary
Rees scored off a Sarah Heretick single, pulling back within four,
6-2, after the top of the fifth inning.
Roanoke, however, scored one more run down the stretch in the
bottom of the sixth inning as Hollee Warlitner scored off
a Lowery two-out RBI single.
Higbie pitched the complete game win, earning her 24th win of
the season. The freshman has now tied the ODAC record for
wins in a season, a mark originally set by Lynchburg's Jen
Overstreet in 2004.
Rainey hit 2-for-3 on the afternoon, crossing the plate
twice. Her two runs today ranks her third in Roanoke history
for runs in a season. She is two runs shy of moving into
seventh all-time in career runs scored. She is also two hits
away from ranking 11th in Roanoke all-time career hits.
Clark finished the day 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two
RBIs. Warlitner went 1-for-3 on the day crossing the plate
twice.
Bridgewater's Anderson led the team with two hits and scored one
of the team's two runs. Sarah Heretick and Lamb each went
1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk.
Roanoke had four players on the ODAC All-Tournament Team.
Higbie was named the 2012 Most Outstanding Player, and
was jonied by Lowery (catcher), Clark (short stop), and
Rainey (center field).
Bridgewater also had two players on the All-Tournament Team with
Anderson (second base) and Heretick (Designated Player).
All-Tournament Team
Pitcher: Lisa Lee, EMU
Catcher: Felice Lowery, RC
First Base: Season Daily, VWC
Second Base: Kasey Anderson, BC
Third Base: Michalann Camp, RMC
Shortstop: Stephanie Clark, RC
Outfield: Jordan Aylor, EMU
Outfield: Tori Higginbotham, VWC
Outfield: Leona Rainey, RC
Designated Player: Sarah Heretick, BC
Most Outstanding Player: Kelly Higbie, RC
--- This release is
courtesy of the Roanoke College sports information department.
---
maroons.roanoke.edu