FINAL SCORE: #1 St. Mary of the Woods - 4, #2 Carlow University - 4
RECORDS: St. Mary of the Woods (30-6) | Carlow University (29-13)
LOCATION: Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio
IN BRIEF: In a game that featured back and forth action, Carlow scored one in the top of the first, but were quickly answered by a Pomeroy run in the bottom of the inning. St. Mary of the Woods then took a 2-1 lead after the second inning. Carlow tied the game 2-2 in the top of the third, but again St. Mary of the Woods responded with a run to regain the lead, 3-2. After a scoreless fourth, Carlow tied the game, 3-3, with a single run in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Pomeroy's hit an RBI double to score what would be the game winner, advancing into the championship game by a score of 4-3.
HOW THEY SCORED: Carlow scored in their first at bat on a two out single by Nicole George, scoring Marla Small who was walked to start the game.
St. Mary of the Woods answered in the bottom of the inning on a Sarah Burnham double, scoring Emma Riffe who hit a leadoff single.
In the bottom of the second inning, St. Mary of the Woods took their first lead of the game on a Kindra Gingerich single to center field that scored Kelly Combs who hit a leadoff single in the inning.
Carlow tied the game, 2-2, in the top of the third as leadoff walk and an error by the Pomeroy's allowed for Small to score on an Allison Hryadil single to left field.
St. Mary of the Woods regained their lead in the bottom of the inning on a Kerri Schrock RBI single.
In the top of the fifth inning, Carlow's Kenzie Young hit a triple to score Kelsey Geyer, who singled in her at bat, tying the game for the second time this time by a score of 3-3.
The Pomeroy's, Emma Riffle hit a one-out single in the bottom of the sixth to put a runner on for Marlee Yeager who hit a double off the top of the fence in left center field to score what would eventually be the game winner. Carlow was held to one hit in their final at bat in the seventh as St. Mary of the Wood's took the 4-3 victory, advancing into the championship game for the second consecutive season.
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE: The Pomeroy's were led offensively by Riffe who went 3 for 4 as well as by Burnham and Yeager who both went 2 for 4 with an RBI.
In the circle was player of the year, Sarah Burnham, who threw the complete game and earning the win. Burnham faced 29 batters, striking out 5.
Carlow had 5 different players contribute hits in the game with the RBI's coming from Young, Hryadil and George.
Throwing the first half of the game for the Celtics was Danielle Levato who faced 17 batters giving up three runs. She was followed by Nicole Hall who threw the final three innings, facing 14 batters.
NEXT UP: St. Mary of the Wood's, with the victory, advances into the championship game for the second consecutive year. They will face the winner of the 6:00 pm game tonight between #2 Carlow and #3 NHTI. The USCAA Softball Championship game is slated for tomorrow, May 19th at 12:00 pm.