SCOTS SOFTBALL DROPS 1-0 DECISION TO COE COLLEGE AT NCAA REGIONAL
The Alma Softball team continued play in the NCAA Regional on Saturday in Bloomington/Normal, IL, when they took on #4 seed Coe College in an elimination game. The Scots dropped a heartbreaking 1-0 decision to the Kohawks, in a game that saw Alma have good chances to score, but in the end, could not push anyone over the plate.
The 2009 season comes to a close for the MIAA Tournament Champion Scots as they finish with a record of 29-13.
In the top of the first inning, Alma starting pitcher So. Tara Leddy (Saginaw,MI/Swan Valley) got two quick outs before giving up a single to Coe’s Chelsea Zaugg and an RBI double to Amy Hanse. Leddy ended the threat by getting Sonja Schwenker to line to Alma Jr. 2B Kasey Miller (Grand Ledge, MI/Grand Ledge), but Coe had the 1-0 lead.
Coe P Ashlee Simon retired the first six Scots she faced and Leddy retired six in a row as Alma came to bat in the bottom of the third inning. Fr. 1B Emily Ross (Buchanan, MI/Buchanan) doubled to lead off the frame and then Sr. C Trista Geier (Livonia, MI/Walled Lake Western) singled, moving Ross to third.
After a strikeout, So. CF Kelly Koenigsknecht (Fowler, MI/Fowler) walked to load the bases. However, Coe’s Simon coaxed two soft liners to second base from Jr. RF Kelsey Rightenburg (Lexington, MI/Croswell-Lexington) and Sr. 3B Brittany Fales (Midland, MI/Dow) to end the inning.
After a one-two-three top of the fourth for the Kohawks, Alma again threatened in bottom half of the frame, only to come up empty once again. Miller led off with an infield single and Jr. RF Sarah Johnson (Portland, MI/Portland) reached on sac bunt, error third baseman to put runners at first and second. They advanced when Jr. SS Houston Verbeck (Burton, MI/Burton) successfully sacrificed them over. But Coe again escaped as Ross popped to the pitcher and Geier flew out to left field.
The Kohawks mounted their own challenge in the top of the fifth inning as they loaded the bases on two singles and an error. Leddy persevered through a tough at bat against Coe’s Erica Smothers by getting her to ground out Fales to Ross.
The Scots next threat came in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs. After two strikeouts to begin the inning, Johnson walked and advanced to second when Verbeck singled down the left field line. However, Alma still was unable to get on the board, as Ross flew-out to right field.
Coe got two runners on in the top half of the seventh inning, but was unable to score, giving the Scots three more outs to tie or win the game in the bottom half of the frame. However, it was not to be on this day. Geier ground out third to first, pinch hitter Fr. DP Becca DeWyse (Bay City, MI/Bay City All Saints) struck out and Koenigsknecht flew out to shortstop to end the game and season for the Scots.
The Scots finished with four hits on the afternoon, with Miller, Verbeck, Ross and Geier providing them. Leddy once again pitched a strong game by going seven innings, giving up six hits and one earned run. She struck one and also gave up her first walk of the tournament.
Posted: Sat, May 9th, 2009 at 3:45PM
