DECATUR, Illinois - For the first time since 2003 the Mount St. Joseph Softball team earned the right to compete in the NCAA Division III softball championships. Their reward was a rematch with the newly minted number one team in the country the Tigers of DePauw. The Lions handed the Tigers one of their two losses on the season way back in March, and each team has been extremely hot coming in to the tournament.
Postseason play in softball is typically low scoring and dominated by the starting pitcher, and this game was no different. Senior
Sarah Miller took to the circle for the Lions and kept the potent Tigers at bay for most of her four innings on the mound. She was nearly unhittable through the first three innings, allowing only a trio of baserunner.
The Lions got on the board first after likely all-america selection Cami Henry from DePauw was the first to give in on the mound. Sophomore
Casey Bramble opened the top of the second inning with a lead-off double to straight away left field. It was the first of Bramble's two hits on the afternoon. Freshman
Maiah Hodge bunted to move Bramble to third, and senior
Gracie Woodyard lifted a sac fly into left for the Lions first run.
The score stayed 1-0 until the bottom of the fourth inning when DePauw struck back. The first two batters of the inning singled through the left side, setting the stage for the biggest moment of the game. Price from DePauw squared to bunt in an attempt to advance the runners into scoring position, the bunt was fielded cleanly by
Kaci Finchum at third. The throw though reached Hodge covering first at the same time as the runner and escaped down the right field line. The Tigers plated two on the error and eventually added a third in run in the inning.
DePauw took a 3-1 lead into the later stages of the game, and Henry settled in. The two run cushion would be all she needed, as the Lions struggled to mount any sustained offense the rest of the way.
"We knew today was going to be a dogfight, and we battled all game." Said Coach Goderwis. " Just a little mistake there in the fourth inning, just made a little error but it was a costly error. But I quickly told the team we are not done yet."
UP NEXT:
As of now the Lions do not know who they play but they do know when. Their next game will be at 2:00 PM central time tomorrow. There are three possible opponents for The Mount, they could see either Bellhaven, Millikin or Calvin.
