(05-11-08)
2008 NCAA Div. II Softball Northeast Regional Page & Bracket LiveStats (for all games) Live Audio (opens pop-up window)Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. -- The University of New Haven softball continued its run through the 2008 NCAA Division II Softball Championships Northeast Regional by outsting second-seeded Le Moyne College, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon to put the Chargers in the Regional championship game vs. top seed C.W. Post. Despite being out hit by the Dolphins four to eight, UNH was able score twice off RBI hits by Nicole Downs and Meg Brown.
The Chargers (29-20) got another strong outing from sophomore pitcher Breanne Gleason as she threw a complete game shutout to eliminate the Dolphins (46-11) from the tournament. Gleason did allow eight hits in the game, but did not allow a runner to cross home plate as she struck out ten batters. With the win, Gleason now has 17 victories in the circle for UNH.
Le Moyne looked to jump out early on the Chargers as they loaded the bases with no outs to start the bottom of the first with three straight singles. Gleason seemed to find her focus as she proceeded to strike out the Dolphins clean-up hitter, O'Neill and the next batter Murphy. So with two outs and the bases still loaded Gleason induced a fly out to left by Schweikert to end the inning and the Le Moyne threat.
Reed, the starter in the circle for Le Moyne, retired the first seven Chargers of the game until giving up a single to freshman Sam Minervini in the top of the third. Minervini would advance on a sacrifice bunt by Chelsea Harold, but would be left stranded at second as the game remained scoreless.
The Dolphins appeared to have another scoring opportunity in the bottom of the third inning with a runner on third with two outs. Gleason was able to get Le Moyne's power hitting first baseman, Murphy, for the second time to end the inning.
In the Charger fourth, Gleason lead off with a walk and was replaced by pinch runner Amber Tolifero. With Tolifero at first, Downs doubled to the fence in right center allowing Tolifero to come around to score and give UNH the 1-0 lead.
UNH added an insurance run in the sixth inning as Downs reached after being hit by a pitch. She advanced to second on a single to left field by Jessica Medina. With two outs and runners at first and second, Brown singled through the left side driving in Downs from second and a 2-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the seventh, Le Moyne once again threatened to score as the Dolphins had runners at first and second with no outs. With a fielder's choice hit to Downs at shortstop, the Chargers were able to get the lead runner out at third and stand two outs away from advancing in the tournament. The next Dophin batter laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position at second and third with two outs. But for the third time in the game, Gleason got the final out with a strike out giving the Chargers the 2-0 win.
With the win, UNH will now play C.W. Post for the Northeast Regional championship. These two teams have already met four times this season with the Pioneers taking all four game. The Chargers will need to defeat the Pioneers twice in a row to earn a berth to the NCAA Spring Championships Festival, next week in Houston.
