USAS Championship: CNU 8, GC 3
BURLINGTON, N.C. – In the 2008 USA South Softball Tournament Championship, Christopher Newport and Greensboro College endured a four-hour rain delay before the Captains were able to secure the title with a
8-3 win. The title was Christopher Newport’s first since 2001 and sixth overall.
The Pride’s Jenee Johnson got things going in the first with a lead-off double to left. She later scored on a Britney Smith sac-fly to give Greensboro a quick 1-0 lead.
CNU answered with a two-spot in the bottom of the frame. Tournament MVP Mary Kennedy tripled for Captains’ first hit and was plated by a Margit Severin home run over the fence in left.
The Captains padded their lead with two more runs in the third. CNU benefited from two walks and an error in the inning as Katie Moyers recorded her tournament-leading seventh RBI of the weekend.
Greensboro managed to scratch one run in the fifth on a Smith RBI-single, cutting the the Captain lead to three.
With CNU leading 5-2 in the sixth, the two teams entered the four-hour rain delay before completing the final six outs. It was an eventful six outs, however, as the Captains out-scored the Pride 3-1 for the 8-3 final.
Janet Fairchild (9-4) earned the win, going the distance and allowing two runs on seven hits. Olivia McPherson suffered the loss for the Pride.
With the win, Christopher Newport University receives the USA South’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
DP Olivia McPherson and outfielders Britney Smith and Jenee Johnson earned all tournament team honors for The Pride.
Box: http://annex.ncwc.edu/athletics/softball/2007-08/conf_tourney/stats/cnugb-1.htm
GC 8, Averett 0 (5 innings)
Davenport’s No-Hitter Sends Pride to the USA South Championship Game
BURLINGTON, N.C. – The Pride of Greensboro College ended the USA South tournament run for ninth-seeded Averett University in a 8-0 shutout. Greensboro’s Jordan Davenport earned her fourth win of the year with today’s no-hitter to improve the Pride to 25-16-2 overall. Averett’s Sandra Dennison completed her season 8-21, and the Cougars fell to 8-23 on the year.
Greensboro took an early 2-run lead in the bottom of the first starting with a single to center field from Ryeleigh Loftin. Olivia McPherson and Olivia Williams hit their first of three hits apiece to complete the action from the plate.
In the bottom of the third inning, Greensboro’s McPherson singled through the middle to set up for Williams’ two-base drive down the leftfield line. Ashley Pennington hit to center field to score McPherson and moved to second on the throw home. With one out Kendra Leghart loaded the bases on an Averett error, and Brittany Smith drew an RBI-walk to score Williams. Nikki Wilborn advanced the runners on a second Averett error before short stop Jessica Clack sacrificed a fly ball to right field pushing the lead to 7. The Cougars got out of the inning with Sandra Dennison’s fourth strikeout of the game.
To start off the bottom of the fifth, Greensboro’s left fielder Brittany Smith tripled to right center. Short stop Jessica Clack scored Smith to end the game in five with a long ball to center field.
The Pride advanced to the 1:00pm USA South Softball Championship game versus second seeded Christopher Newport University (32-8-1).
Box: http://annex.ncwc.edu/athletics/softball/2007-08/conf_tourney/stats/gc-au17.htm