Kutztown, Pa. – The Golden Eagles defeated Shepherd University in an elimination game but then fell to Kutztown in the following game, ending their season at the Atlantic regional.
The Basics:
Location: North Campus Softball Field
Score: UC 1, SU 0
Records: UC 37-16 Shepherd 28-24-1
How it Happened:
The elimination game was a pitcher and defensive duel between the Golden Eagles and the Golden Rams, both teams collecting just four hits. The lone run of the ballgame came in the third inning for Charleston. Alli Rubal led off the inning with a double to left center but then was stranded on second base for the next two batters, putting the bat in Lindsey Phares hands with two outs. Phares worked the count until she saw a changeup that she sent back up the middle into centerfield, scoring Rubal from second.
Addison Mass threw the complete game shutout, striking out ten and allowing just four hits in the victory. With the win, Charleston eliminated Shepherd and was set to face the host Kutztown, who also had a loss on their record.
The Basics:
Location: North Campus Softball Field
Score: UC 1, KU 3
Records: UC 37-17 Kutztown 41-17
How it Happened:
The second game of Charleston's afternoon featured UC as the home team and Kutztown as the away team. The away Golden Bears struck first in the top of the first inning when they plated one run on one hit and one UC error. Charleston had a chance to score in the bottom half of the inning but an on target throw from center field caught Rubal trying to tag from third on a fly ball, ending the inning with Kutztown leading 1-0.
Mass then shut down the Golden Bears in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the second, giving her team another chance at the plate.With two outs, Hannah Meyer sent a long ball over the left field wall to tie the score at 1-1. The next several innings were scoreless until the top of the sixth when Kutztown sent a two-run shot to left field, taking the 3-1 lead over Charleston. Charleston saw a runner in scoring position in the bottom half of the inning but could not bring the runner home, leaving their final chances for the seventh.
Kutztown had a runner on third in the top of the seventh but Mass ended the threat, her team with just three outs to work with to avoid the loss. Brittny Ogg singled with one out in the bottom of the seventh but Charleston could not push a run across, ending Charleston's season.
