DECATUR, Illinois - For the first time since 2003 the Mount St. Joseph University softball program is headed to the NCAA Tournament. They have earned that right after being the class of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference the entire 2021 season and securing the 2021 HCAC Championship in Lexington last Saturday.
This moment has been coming for this group, especially the seniors for nearly three years. In 2019 the Lions put together one of the best regular season's in the history of the program, going 35-7 overall and 14-1 in the HCAC earning the programs first regular season HCAC Championship. That year they earned the right to host the HCAC's post-season tournament, and despite outstanding success they had to watch as Transylvania celebrated a championship on their field.
This season was much of the same, as the Lions played to a 30-8 overall record this season and a 14-2 record in conference and a share of the regular season title. Due to tiebreaker rules the tournament was hosted by Transylvania. This group of seniors
Alehia Tucker,
Sarah Miller,
Brooke Otto,
Gracie Woodyard and
Olivia Burger were all on the field two years ago when Transy took the championship home. But on Saturday it was the Lions chance to celebrate on another team's field, taking down the Pioneers 5-1 in the Championship game.
That win earned The Mount the right to represent the HCAC in this season's NCAA DIII National Tournament, and on Monday they found out where they would be headed. The Lions found out they would be playing in the Decatur, Illinois region hosted by Millikin University.
Their first game of the weekend will be a rematch of an early matchup this season, as they will take on the newly minted number one team in the nation the Tigers of DePauw. The Tigers come into the regional 34-2 on the season, and riding an 18-game winning streak. The plus side though is that one of those two losses came on March 30, in a match with The Mount. The Lions took game one of that double-header 8-2 and were leading the second game when it was called off due to weather.
In that game the Lions jumped out to a quick lead taking a 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning, from which they never looked back.
Sarah Miller was outstanding in the circle allowing just two runs on seven hits in the complete game win. Tucker was also masterful going 4-for-5 at the plate with three doubles, two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base.
The Lions also come into the game playing outstanding softball, riding a program record 17-game winning streak of their own. During which they have outscored their opponents 136-21, allowing just 1.24 runs per game.
The Lions and Tigers will square off at 10:00 am central time on Thursday, should the Lions win they will play again on Friday, if they lose they will play again on Thursday.
The rest of the regional will feature host Millikin, Calvin, Bellhaven, and Geneva.
Click
HERE for the tournament page for links to all of the games.
