Emerson Claims 2009 GNAC Softball Championship
Bridget Farago (Jr., Oneonta, N.Y.) delivered a two-out single
in the bottom of the seventh inning to score Jilisa, Rawding (So.,
Tewksbury, Mass.) and give Emerson College a come from behind 2-1
victory over St. Joseph's College in the Great Northeast Athletic
Conference Softball Championship Tournament. The win gives
the Lions (32-7) their second GNAC Championship in the past three
seasons and qualifies Emerson for the NCAA Divisoin III
Championship Tournament that begins May 9 at a site to be
determined.
Farago's single followed a single to centerfield by Rawding.
Catie McDonough (Sr., North Adams, Mass.) dropped down a
sacrifice bunt to move Rawding to second. Rawding took third
on a passed ball and easily scored as Farago's hit was lined down
the left field line.
St.Joseph's scored first in the tight pitchers' duel between
Emerson's Kelsey Tuthill (FY, Middletown, Conn.) and St. Joseph's
Kiera Walsh (So., Benton, Maine). In the top of the fourth
inning the Monks' Anna Willis (Jr., Gorham, Maine) had a one out
single and advanced to second on a Emily Leverone (FY, Hampton,
N.H.) single. Liddy van der Linden (Jr., Worcester, Mass.)
then walked to load the bases. Alyssa Dunn (So., Standish,
Maine) singled to center to plate Willis. A fielder's choice
that forced Leverone at the plate and a strikeout halted the
inning.
Emerson got the run back in the bottom of the sixth inning as Lynn
Herman (So., Boca Raton, Fla.) singled through the right side and
advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sierra Wood (So.,
Torrance, Calif.) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Herman to
third. Brittany Martin (So., Las Vegas, Nev.) followed with a
sacrifice fly to right field scoring Herman.
Emerson survived a scare in the St. Joseph's seventh when with one
out Jillian Kimball (Jr., Albany Township, Maine) reached on an
error by Tuthiill and advanced to second on the throw. Pinch hitter
Maria Labbe FY, Lewiston, Maine) lined a hard shot to left field on
which Emerson's Megan Kaye (Sr., Miami, Fla.) made a running catch
and perfect throw to double Kimball off at second and end the
threat.
Tuthill was named the Tournament's most valuable player giving up
only four runs in 21 innings pitched.
Courtesy: Emerson College Athletics
