Shippensburg Holds Off Late Rally by IUP in Mid-Atlantic Regional, Wins 4-2
May 12, 2005
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The Shippensburg University softball team held of a late rally by Indiana University (Pa.) for a 4-2 win in game three of the 2005 NCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic Region Softball Championship on Thursday afternoon at Robb Sports Complex.
The Lady Raiders (41-3) scored all four of their runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Senior Beth Rudai (Glen Mills, Pa./University High Ill.) started the inning by beating out a grounder to short. Bunt singles from senior Anna Corr (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) and senior Jaime Dacey (Langhorne, Pa./Archbishop Wood) loaded the bases.
Senior Sarah Costa (Laurel, Md./Atholton) hit a sacrifice fly to center field and Rudai tagged up and scored for Shippensburg's first run of the game.
Senior Jessica Miller (Easton, Pa./Easton) had the big hit of the inning, a two-RBI double down the left field line that scored Corr and Dacey to give Shippensburg a 3-0 lead. Miller later scored in the inning off a throwing error to make the score 4-0.
The Indians (23-16) staged a rally in the top of the seventh as Sarah White led off the inning with a double to left center. Carolyn Fendrich reached base with a single while Hilary Tutrani walked to load the bases.
Relief pitcher freshman Danielle Shields (Laurel, Del./Sussex Tech) retired the next two batters until a wild pitch and an error allowed Fendrich and pinch-runner Kerri Hiles to score, cutting Shippensburg's led to 4-2.
Junior Kelley Tiesi (Baltimore, Md./Catholic School of Baltimore) started the game for the Lady Raiders and pitched five scoreless innings, allowing only two hits. She had six strikeouts and raised her record to 23-1.
Shippensburg was led at the plate by Costa who went 2-for-2 with an RBI. Miller was 1-for-3 with two RBI.
For Indiana (Pa.), Jodie Swavely went the distance, allowing four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. Fendrich was 1-for-3 at the plate and scored a run.
The Lady Raiders move on to face Bloomsburg University on Friday at 2:00 p.m. The Huskies defeated Lock Haven University, 10-1, to remain undefeated in the tournament. The Indians face Elizabeth City State University at Noon tomorrow.
For more information on the tournament, including results, please visit the tournament web site here.
- Lady Raider Softball -
