Behrend Falls to Union, Eliminated from NCAA Tournament After Loss
Penn State Behrend softball (34-10)
was eliminated from the NCAA Division III Tournament on Friday, May 12 after a 0-5 loss to the
Union College Dutchwomen (30-6). Behrend came in at 0-1 in the
tournament after losing to second-seeded Ithaca College, while Union also
entered at 0-1 with a loss to Western Connecticut State.
After a scoreless first, Union threatened to score in the second when Michelle Rogers led off with a triple, but was stranded as the next three batters went down in order. Union would go on to strand two more in the fourth when Julie Koman (Mckees Rocks/Montour) got two straight groundouts to end the inning. Behrend would see Linsay Baughman (Warren/Warren) make it to third in the bottom half of the fifth but a diving catch by Union’s leftfielder put an end to the inning.
Union struck first in the sixth after Abby Arceneaux hit a lead off double and went on to score from third on a sacrifice fly. The Dutchwomen would load the bases with no outs in the seventh and add to their 1-0 lead after a passed ball and a bunt single by Stephanie Rubino. A two RBI double by Alicia Gifford would prove to put the game out of reach, 5-0.
Koman (Mckees Rocks/Montour) gave the blue and white a complete game, giving up three earned runs on nine hits and striking out three. Behrend struggled at the plate against tough pitching by Union's Jackie Coffey. Ashton Haas (Aliquippa/Hopewell) went 1-for-3 and had Behrend’s only hit of the ball game.
The loss eliminates Behrend from the tournament and closes Behrend’s season at an impressive 34-10.
NCAA Northeast Region Tournament Website:
http://bombers.ithaca.edu/News/softball/2006/5/9/sball
ncaaregionalhome.asp?path=softball