Cheers and Tears - Scots Out of NCAA Championship With 5-4 Loss to Ithaca College.
RALEIGH, N.C. - The Alma College softball team ended its 2005
Championship run Sunday (May 22) with a 5-4 heartbreaking loss to
Ithaca College.
Alma jumped to an early lead in the top of the second inning when Amy Gaudard (Mt. Pleasant) continued her phenomenal freshman postseason campaign with a leadoff single. Junior Megan Colligan (Northville/Novi) stepped in and, with her only hit of the postseason, knocking one deep over the right center field fence. Shannon Harrington (Dewitt/St. Johns) ground out to second base for the first out of the inning before Anne Westerman (Gaylord/St. Mary's) was issued a walk. Senior and pitcher Melissa Tavidian (New Hudson/South Lyon) hit for herself on the day, knocking a ball up the middle to send Westerman to second. Emily Blahnik (Corunna) was in to pinch hit for Mary Pietsch (Rogers City)
and struck out looking. With two outs, another freshman stepped up in
the biggest game of her college career and nailed an RBI single to
plate Westerman. A Megan Knochel (Pinconning) fly ball to left field ended the inning in the Scots' favor, 3-0.
But Ithaca answered in the bottom of the inning with four runs on five hits and an error, stranding just one runner on base.
The Scots tied it up in the top of the fourth with a Westerman single,
followed by singles from both Tavidian and Pietsch as Pietsch's hit
sent Westerman home.
Heading to the bottom of the sixth, the Scots led off issuing a walk to
Ithaca's Dulac. A Pelesz single moved the pinch runner to second and
Tavidian got the first out of the inning, striking out Cutspec. Petesz
and Kowalsick moved ahead on a passed ball. Illinger reached first on a
fielder's choice play as the Scots got Kowalsick, the pinch runner, out
at home. An error in the infield allowed Pelesz to score unearned,
giving the Bombers all the advantage they would need to take the 5-4
win.
Tavidian threw six innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven
hits, striking out four and walking three. Westerman was 2-for-2 at the
plate with two runs.
Alma ends the season 33-10, capturing the 2005 MIAA Championship and the 2005 Regional Championship.
Posted: Sun, May 22nd, 2005 at 6:23PM
