GENESEO, N.Y. - On Saturday, May 14th your Mount St. Joseph University Lions softball team matched up against the Beavers of Babson in the Regional Semifinal game. The Lions entered the contest holding the #4 seed after defeating top seeded and hosting school, SUNY-Geneseo. Babson entered the contest as the #2 seed on the heels of a thrilling victory. Friday afternoon the Beavers knocked off Stevens in extra innings to move on in the winner's bracket. These two squads would now battle it out for a chance at a Regional Championship.
The Lions took the field first to begin play and ran into some trouble early. The Lions would surrender a pair of hits and the Beavers would tally the first run of the game on a single. After the first inning of play the Lions trailed by just 1 run.
After each squad was held in check in the 2nd,
Kamryn McCool would blank the Beavers again in the top of the 3rd. In the bottom half the Lions bats would come alive.
Emily McDonald registered the first knock of the afternoon for the Lions and it was a big one. McDonald scorched a ball through the left side and legged out a double to get the momentum shifting. After a sacrifice bunt from
Ali Lang,
Kelsi Stevenson would deliver in a big spot. Stevenson would send a flare to shallow right field singling and scoring a run as the Lions would tie the game at 1.
But, pitching would end up being the deciding factor in this contest. After the Lions tied up the score
Kamryn McCool found her groove. McCool blanked the Beavers for the next three innings making time for her offense to attack. After a pair of scoreless innings for the Lions' offense, they were able to give McCool the help she needed. In the bottom half of the 6th
Kelsi Stevenson would quickly shift the momentum in the Lions' direction flaring a ball to left center and hustling out a double to begin the inning.
Macy Cornelius would follow reaching on a bunt as pitch runner
Kaitlin Leslie came around to score on an error giving the Lions a 2-1 lead. After another sacrifice the Lions were in great position to score with a runner sitting on third base. With two outs and a runner on third
Maddie Kennedy stepped to the plate in a big spot. Kennedy came up clutch for the Lions offense crushing a ball to right center for a double bringing in Cornelius to give the Lions a 3-1 lead.
Kamryn McCool was dominant again in the 7th taking care of the Beavers in order to send the Lions to the Regional Championship game.
Kamryn McCool was masterful for the Lions pitching 7 innings giving up just a pair of hits and 1 run, unearned. McCool also added 9 strikeouts to her total moving to 2-0 in Regional play. Kelsi Steveson was great for the Lions providing a pair of crucial hits including a RBI single. Fellow freshman
Maddie Kennedy also came in clutch for the Lions providing 2 hits and a RBI to push the Lions past the Beavers.
Here is a little of what Head Coach
Beth Goderwis had to say after the victory, "We're not done. We have a plan and a goal and we aren't done. We don't want to take this to an and-if game. We want to finish it out tomorrow, first game."
For the second time in as many years the Lions find themselves in the Regional Championship. The Lions will again face off against the #2 seed Babson as they defeated Stevens once again to advance to the Championship. The Lions just need 1 win to claim the Regional Championship with Babson needing a pair of wins to advance. The Regional Championship is scheduled to begin tomorrow, Sunday, May 15th with first pitch at 12pm. For continued coverage of your Mount St. Joseph University softball team and all MSJ athletics please tune into msjlions.com.
