Softball National Championship: ASU falls in extra innings
Angelo State fell to top-ranked North Georgia, 3-2 in 11 innings at the NCAA Division II Softball National Championship Finals in Salem, Va.
The loss sends the Rambelles (49-9) into the loser's bracket where they will face the winner of the LeMoyne/Winona State contest at 5 p.m. CST on Saturday.
ASU scored a pair of runs in the top of the 11th to break open a
scoreless contest. Junior April Haywood would plate freshman pinch
runner Jasmaine Moore with one out in the frame to put ASU on top,
1-0. Two batters later, junior Nicole Smith gave the Rambelles what
seemed to be an insurance run with a single to leftfield, plating
junior Megan Pumphrey.
The Saints (50-3) would then open the bottom of the 11th with
ASU's fourth error of the game, allowing Pilar Harden to reach
base. After a single by Hillary Cox and a walk drawn by Stephanie
Famakis, North Georgia had the bases loaded with no outs for the
second time in the game.
Kaelin Farrington used a one-out single to rightfield to score
both Cox and Famakis to knot the game, 2-2. Farrington would
advance to second as the Rambelles were able to collect the second
out of the inning at third base on the play. The Saints complete
the comeback one batter later on ASU's fifth error of the contest,
allowing Farrington to score from second base.
Nelson (31-5) pitcher another stellar game, giving up two earned
runs on just four hits. Nelson had four strikeouts and issued six
walks to the Saints. The Rambelles picked up 11 hits in the loss,
including a 3-for-5 performance by junior Sarah DeMoss. Haywood and
sophomore Alix Dean each added 2-for-5 outings from the plate.
For North Georgia, Sarah Phillips (39-1) earned the victory after
giving up two earned runs on 11 hits with 12 strikeouts. Farrington
led the Saints going 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
- Courtesy of ASU sports information
