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Softball Falls to U. of R and Fisher in NCAA’s
May 8, 2009
Freshman Sara James batted 5-for-6 in Keuka's two games today.
The Keuka College softball team saw its magical 2009 season come to a close on the second day of the NCAA Tournament regional at Ithaca College. The No. 6 Storm were defeated 10-2 by the No. 2 Yellowjackets of the University of Rochester in a game beginning at noon. Keuka was then eliminated by the No. 3 Cardinals of St. John Fisher College by a score of 7-6 in a game at 4 pm.
Keuka finishes the season with an overall record of 24-8 while making its third straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Against Rochester, the Storm were out-hit only 10-6 but committed three costly errors. In the top of the first, Rochester’s lead off hitter popped up to the pitcher’s mound but no Keuka player caught the ball. After a SAC bunt, Rochester hit a ground ball off the glove of sophomore hurler Kate Kraus (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) and was then followed by a suicide squeeze bunt that Kraus mishandled. The Yellowjackets plated three runs when they should have been held scoreless.
Keuka then committed two more costly errors in the top of the third that led to a seven run inning for the Yellowjackets. Rochester had five hits in the inning but should have been held to just a run or two if not for the miscues.
Keuka finally broke free in the bottom of the fifth inning with a pair of runs. Senior Lindsay Humberstone (Perry, N.Y./Perry) led off with a single and later scored on a passed ball. Sophomore Brittany Schrock (Elmira Heights, N.Y./Thomas Edison) then smoked a triple and was driven in by a single from freshman Sara James (Wayland, N.Y./Wayland-Cohocton).
Kraus suffered the loss on the hill while allowing six earned and 10 hits.
In Keuka’s rematch against Fisher, who they thumped to a tune of 10-2 in its opening game of the Tournament, Keuka let a late lead slip away as they fell by one run. The Storm out-hit Fisher 9-7 but had three costly errors again.
Keuka built a 5-2 lead after four innings of play but gave up two runs in the top of the fifth to make it a 5-4 game and then three more runs in the top of the sixth to fall behind 7-5. Keuka answered with a run in the bottom half of the sixth but that would be it.
Senior Kasie Davis (Johnsburg, N.Y./Johnsburg) pitched the first five innings and left with a 5-4 lead. Kraus then entered and allowed the three runs, although only one was earned to suffer the loss. James batted a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI while sophomore Denise Bilbow (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) batted 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Sophomore Sarah Fredricks (Milton, Ontario/E.C. Drury) also clubbed two hits in four plate appearances.
