Mann's two-out RBI double delivers top-seed Muskingum a win in New Jersey Regional
NEW CONCORD, OHIO, May 8, 2008 - Senior right fielder Kelli Mann's clutch two-out RBI double in the bottom of the seventh lifted the top-seed Muskingum College softball team to a thrilling 3-2 win against fourth-seed Western Connecticut State Friday in the Glassboro, New Jersey, NCAA Division III Softball Championships Regional. [Western Connecticut boxscore] [Photo Gallery] [Glassboro Regional site]
The Muskies loaded the bases in the bottom half of the seventh to set the stage for their dramatic win. Sophomore right fielder Mallory Hay opened things with a single and was subbed for pinch runner freshman Allison Opalich. Senior third baseman Heather Fields followed with a bunt single and sophomore pinch hitter Katie Reese also notched a bunt single to load the bases. Sophomore pinch hitter Paige Thompson entered the box and lined into an unassisted double play to third baseman Stacey DiMaggio who recorded the out on Opalich too. Mann stepped to the plate with two outs and clubbed her game-winning double to deep center field to score Fields from second and propel the Muskies to the win.
"Kelli was awesome today," said Muskingum Head Coach Donna Newberry. "She hit the ball hard all day and delivered the clutch hit when we needed her to."
Muskingum grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the third. Mann opened the frame with a double and scored on a throwing error by pitcher Shelby Slie. Slie was trying to throw out senior Jamie Echelberger who laid down a sacrifice bunt but her errant throw to first allowed Mann to score and Echelberger to move to second. Echelberger moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by junior designated player Randi Dance and scored on senior catcher Kari Hoying's sacrifice fly.
Western Connecticut chalked up its first run on a home run to left field by Cortney Romyns in the fifth. The Colonials tied the game in the fifth with an unearned run to set the stage for Muskingum's exciting win.
Mann ended the game 2-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI. Fields also added two hits and Hay, Hoying and Reese all registered one hit. Junior pitcher Amy Mattin fired the complete game win. Mattin limited the Colonials to four hits with six strikeouts to improve to 27-5 on the year.
"Overall, we played well today," added Newberry. "We hit the ball hard and made plays defensively to keep Western Connecticut at bay. As we continue tournament play, we will have to clean up our base running miscues and lower our base-on-balls. Western Connecticut is a very scrappy team with quality players. We beat a good team today."
Muskingum will hit the field next on Saturday against the winner of second-seed Mount Union College and sixth-seed Denison University. Game time is slated for 4:30 p.m.
WMCO 90.7 FM's broadcast trio of Muskingum Sports Information Director Tom Caudill, J.J. Mickey and Seth Holdsworth will call every Muskingum game live on the radio and on the Internet at http://www.muskingum.edu/home/athletics/broadcast.html.
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