No. 1 Lock Haven Dispatches No. 9 Softball, 3-0
Box Score
HOUSTON (May 15, 2008) – Despite outhitting the Lady Eagles of Lock Haven University by a 5-4 count, the Pioneers were unable to come up with the timely hit as they dropped a 3-0 game to the top-ranked team in the nation, ending their run through the NCAA Division II College World Series as well as their season.
The Lady Eagles (48-7) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first as Julia Popovich reached on a dropped third strike, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, third on a groundout, and scored on a passed ball.
The Pioneers had a chance in the fourth, as
Melissa Hippo (Granite Bay, Calif.) reached on a fielder's choice, and
Samantha Yodowitz (Suffern, N.Y.) followed with a single past third base, but First Team All-American pitcher Kristin Erb got
Holly Eringis (Tewksbury, Mass.) to ground out to end the threat.
In the bottom of the fifth, Devin Glezen roped a one-out home run to left center field, doubling the Lady Eagle advantage to 2-0.
Lock Haven added an insurance run in the sixth as Amanda Roosa's single up the middle scored Sarah Norris from second base.
The Pioneers could not muster much offense against Erb, managing only five hits.
Yodowitz was superb in the circle for the final outing of her four-year career, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits in seven innings, striking out five. She did not allow a hit until the fifth inning of the game.
The Pioneers end their season at 48-16, setting a new standard for wins in a season for the third consecutive year, as well as winning East Coast Conference regular season and tournament championship titles, their second consecutive NCAA Northeast Region Championship, and their second straight appearance in the NCAA Division II College World Series.