May 20, 2013
Cortland Softball National Runner-up After 6-5 Loss to Tufts in Championship Round
EAU CLAIRE, WIS. – Cortland finished second at the NCAA Div. III Softball World Series after falling to Tufts University, 6-5, in the championship round. Tufts, which scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to overcome a 5-3 deficit, finished 4-0 at the double-elimination tournament to win its first national title. Cortland earned its best-ever national finish with its runner-up showing and 3-2 record.
Cortland (35-17) was making its eighth World Series appearance overall and fourth in the last six years. The Red Dragons had an 8-10 record on April 5, but won 27 of their final 34 games. That stretch included four straight victories to win the SUNYAC Tournament, a 4-1 record to win the NCAA Regional at Ithaca, and a 3-2 record at the World Series.
Cortland was coming off an emotional 7-6 win over Salisbury earlier in the day with a five-run bottom of the seventh, and the momentum carried over into the championship round when Diane Cork (Wayland/Wayland-Cohocton) led off the game with a homer, her 11th of the season.
Tufts (46-3), however, tied the game, on a Jo Clair solo homer in the bottom of the first and took the lead on a Kris Parr solo homer in the second. The Jumbos extended their lead to 3-1 in the third. Bri Keenan was hit by a pitch, Clair doubled, Emily Beinecke was intentionally walked and Keenan scored on a wild pitch.
Cortland got a run back in the top of the fourth, but missed a chance at a bigger inning. Erin Wolstenholme (Oneonta) led off with a double and scored on a Courtney Kadish (Williamsville/Williamsville North) single to left center. Kadish took second on the throw home, and Briana Barca (Eastchester) was hit by pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs. However, a popped up bunt, a strikeout and a fly out ended the inning.
The Red Dragons re-gained the lead with three runs in the top of the fifth. Cortland loaded the bases with no outs on consecutive singles by Alicia Hibbard (Canastota), Cassie Kardias (Shrub Oak/Lakeland) and Nicole Gallo (Mount Sinai). The next two batters struck out, but Barca hit a two-run double that just eluded a diving right fielder in right center, and Jamie Bucci (Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow) bunted for an RBI single.
Tufts had an answer in the bottom of the fifth to knock out Cortland starter Amber Corrigan (Montgomery/Valley Central). The first two batters reached on a walk and an error. After a force out at third for the first out, Michelle Cooprider hit a two-run double to left center to tie the game at 5-5.
Cooprider moved to third on an illegal pitch by reliever Sarah Salamone (Liverpool/Cicero-North Syracuse) and scored on a Gracie Marshall RBI single to left center to give the Jumbos the lead. Parr and Kayla Holland each singled to load the bases. Tiffany Sampere (Liverpool) entered to pitch and got two lineouts to end the inning.
The Red Dragons managed a one-out single by Hibbard in the sixth, but two flyouts ended the inning. Corrigan re-entered to pitch in the bottom of the sixth and held the Jumbos scoreless despite a walk and single. Tufts starter Allyson Fournier retired Cortland in order in the top of the seventh to end the game.
Cortland lost despite out-hitting the Jumbos, 12-8. Kardias finished 3-for-4, Hibbard was 2-for-4 and Barca went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Corrigan finished the season 20-7. She gave up five hits and five walks in five and a third innings. She struck out three and gave up six runs, five earned.
Fournier, who entered the game with a 0.38 ERA for Tufts, allowed 12 hits and five runs, all earned, and struck out eight. She finishes the season with a 25-1 record. Parr went 2-for-3 with an RBI, Cooprider was 2-for-4 with two RBI and Clair finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Cortland’s Meola, Hibbard and Kardias were named to the NCAA Div. III World Series All-Tournament Team. Fournier from Tufts was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Series.
Box Score and other details to be posted later.
Cortland (35-17) was making its eighth World Series appearance overall and fourth in the last six years. The Red Dragons had an 8-10 record on April 5, but won 27 of their final 34 games. That stretch included four straight victories to win the SUNYAC Tournament, a 4-1 record to win the NCAA Regional at Ithaca, and a 3-2 record at the World Series.
Cortland was coming off an emotional 7-6 win over Salisbury earlier in the day with a five-run bottom of the seventh, and the momentum carried over into the championship round when Diane Cork (Wayland/Wayland-Cohocton) led off the game with a homer, her 11th of the season.
Tufts (46-3), however, tied the game, on a Jo Clair solo homer in the bottom of the first and took the lead on a Kris Parr solo homer in the second. The Jumbos extended their lead to 3-1 in the third. Bri Keenan was hit by a pitch, Clair doubled, Emily Beinecke was intentionally walked and Keenan scored on a wild pitch.
Cortland got a run back in the top of the fourth, but missed a chance at a bigger inning. Erin Wolstenholme (Oneonta) led off with a double and scored on a Courtney Kadish (Williamsville/Williamsville North) single to left center. Kadish took second on the throw home, and Briana Barca (Eastchester) was hit by pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs. However, a popped up bunt, a strikeout and a fly out ended the inning.
The Red Dragons re-gained the lead with three runs in the top of the fifth. Cortland loaded the bases with no outs on consecutive singles by Alicia Hibbard (Canastota), Cassie Kardias (Shrub Oak/Lakeland) and Nicole Gallo (Mount Sinai). The next two batters struck out, but Barca hit a two-run double that just eluded a diving right fielder in right center, and Jamie Bucci (Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow) bunted for an RBI single.
Tufts had an answer in the bottom of the fifth to knock out Cortland starter Amber Corrigan (Montgomery/Valley Central). The first two batters reached on a walk and an error. After a force out at third for the first out, Michelle Cooprider hit a two-run double to left center to tie the game at 5-5.
Cooprider moved to third on an illegal pitch by reliever Sarah Salamone (Liverpool/Cicero-North Syracuse) and scored on a Gracie Marshall RBI single to left center to give the Jumbos the lead. Parr and Kayla Holland each singled to load the bases. Tiffany Sampere (Liverpool) entered to pitch and got two lineouts to end the inning.
The Red Dragons managed a one-out single by Hibbard in the sixth, but two flyouts ended the inning. Corrigan re-entered to pitch in the bottom of the sixth and held the Jumbos scoreless despite a walk and single. Tufts starter Allyson Fournier retired Cortland in order in the top of the seventh to end the game.
Cortland lost despite out-hitting the Jumbos, 12-8. Kardias finished 3-for-4, Hibbard was 2-for-4 and Barca went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Corrigan finished the season 20-7. She gave up five hits and five walks in five and a third innings. She struck out three and gave up six runs, five earned.
Fournier, who entered the game with a 0.38 ERA for Tufts, allowed 12 hits and five runs, all earned, and struck out eight. She finishes the season with a 25-1 record. Parr went 2-for-3 with an RBI, Cooprider was 2-for-4 with two RBI and Clair finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Cortland’s Meola, Hibbard and Kardias were named to the NCAA Div. III World Series All-Tournament Team. Fournier from Tufts was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Series.
Box Score and other details to be posted later.
