GENESEO, N.Y. - On Friday, May 13th your Mount St. Joseph University softball team traveled to SUNY-Geneseo to begin the NCAA DIII Regional tournament. The Lions entered the tournament as the #4 seed taking on the top seed SUNY-Geneseo. But, the Lions never looked like underdogs, taking the lead early and never looking back.
The Lions got off to a hot start at the plate. The Lions first three batters all reached base safely to start the game including a pair of bunt singles. With nobody out and the bases loaded
Rachel Gabbard was given a golden opportunity to break the game open early. Gabbard stepped to the plate and smoked a ball down the right field line scoring Lang and Stevenson giving the Lions a 2-0 lead.
Macy Cornelius would later come around to score on an error as the Lions jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.
Geneseo would not go down quietly in their half however, pushing across 1 run trimming the Lions lead to 3-1. After each squad was held scoreless in the 2nd the Lions came back to the plate to start the 3rd.
Rachel Gabbard again would step to the plate for the Lions and registered her 2nd hit of the contest singling to left field. But, this time it was
Kaci Finchum who would deliver for The Mount. With 2 runners in scoring position Finchum who double bringing in a pair of runs giving the Lions a 5-1 advantage.
But, again in the bottom half Geneseo would not be retired quickly. Geneseo would push across their 2nd run of the ballgame trimming the Lions lead to 5-2.
After a pair of scoreless innings the Lions were able to find the score sheet once again. In the top half of the 6th Finchum would lead off the inning with a single to right field. Following the single
Elizabeth Ivers headed to the batter's box. Ivers with a pair of strikes crushed a ball to left center bringing in Finchum all the way from first and giving the Lions a 6-2 lead.
But, in the bottom half of the inning the Lions would run into trouble. The Knights were able to get 3 runs back in the bottom of the 6th leaving the Lions ahead by a score of 6-5 with just 1 inning left to play.
But, the Lions weren't done yet. With 1 out
Casey Bramble would work the count and was rewarded with a walk. After another out followed by an error, Bramble would come around to score giving the Lions a much needed insurance run. In the bottom half, for the first time all game the Knights failed to answer. After 7 innings of softball the Lions claimed victory by a score of 7-5.
Kamryn McCool had a solid outing for the Lions in the circle pitching 7 innings allowing 4 earned runs while striking out 3 batters. At the plate 4 Lions recorded 2 hits including
Ali Lang,
Rachel Gabbard,
Kaci Finchum and
Elizabeth Ivers. Gabbard and Finchum each drove in a pair of runs igniting the Lions offense.
UP NEXT: Your Mount St. Joseph University softball team will take the field tomorrow, Saturday May 14th in the Regional Semifinal match. The Lions will take on the #2 Babson Beavers will first pitch scheduled for 12pm. For continued coverage of your MSJ Softball Team and all MSJ Athletics tune into msjlions.com.
