May 21, 2009
SB: #2 LOCK HAVEN SHUTS OUT #12 LE MOYNE, 5-0, IN OPENING ROUND OF
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Salem, Va. - Four-time first team All-American Kristin Erb struck
out seven batters and allowed just four hits and Sarah Norris went
4-for-4 with two runs scored to lead #2-nationally ranked Lock
Haven to a 5-0 win over the #12-ranked Le Moyne College softball
team on Thursday night in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Division
II Softball Championships at the Moyer Complex.
The Lady Eagles, who won the 2006 National Championship at the
Moyer Complex, opened the scoring in the first inning with a run on
two hits. Norris singled through the left side to start the frame.
Following a sac bunt by Erb, Ilia Lopez singled to right field to
knock in Norris.
Lock Haven, the Atlantic Regional champion, followed with single
runs in each of the next four innings. Amanda Gutmaker walked on
four pitches to lead off the second and moved to second on a sac
bunt. Nancy O'Connor then doubled to center field to drive in
Gutmaker. After a pop out and a single by Norris, senior
Jennifer Farrelly (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) entered
the pitcher's circle for sophomore starter Jenna Vanacore
(Hicksville, N.Y./Holy Trinity). Farrelly closed out the
inning with a strikeout of Erb.
In the third, Lopez singled to center to begin the frame and moved
into scoring position on a sac bunt. Following a fly out, Gutmaker
singled to right center to plate Lopez from second. Norris gave her
team a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning on a two-out solo home run to
center field. The Lady Eagles closed out the scoring in the fifth
inning with one run on a hit and an error. Gutmaker drew a two-out
walk and then stole second base. Brittany Muthard followed with a
single to center field to score Gutmaker.
Erb, the all-time wins leader in Division II softball with 164,
held the Dolphins without a hit for the first three and two-thirds
innings before Farrelly singled through the left side. With the
shutout, Erb posted her 97th career shutout to tie the NCAA record
set by Cal. State Northridge's Kathy Slaten from 1983-86.
Vanacore, named a Daktronics Third Team All-American earlier in the
day, took the loss in the circle for the Dolphins, just her fourth
of the season, after allowing two runs on four hits over one and
two-thirds innings. Farrelly, an Honorable Mention Daktronics
All-American, yielded three runs on six hits over the final four
and one-third innings.
Le Moyne (45-12), which is making its fifth appearance in the NCAA
Championships in the last eight years, returns to action on
Saturday at 2:00 p.m. against Winona State in an elimination
game.
-agate-
#2 Lock Haven 5,
#12 Le Moyne 0
#12 Le Moyne (45-12)
000 000
0
-
0
4 1
#2 Lock Haven (47-5)
111 110
X
-
5
10 2
Le Moyne (45-12): Jenna Vanacore (L, 23-4), Jennifer Farrelly (2)
and Kim Baker.
Lock Haven (47-5): Kristin Erb (W, 46-4) and Amanda Roosa.
