| Cortland hit three home runs
on the day as they made short work of Luther on
Saturday. Salisbury photo by Ryan Coleman |
Cortland State hit three home runs enroute to a 9-1 triumph in five innings over the Norse of Luther. The game was shortened due to the mercy rule that the game is declared over when there is a lead of eight runs or more after the fifth inning.
Cortland opened the scoring with a single run off the bat of Alicia Hibbard. Lucia Meola walked and Hibbard's double plated Meola.
The Red Dragons added two more in the third on back-to-back solo home runs by Diane Cork and Meola.
Luther manufactored a run in the their half of the third to pull within two runs. Kayla Hatting walked and moved to secon of Shari Huber's single. A sacrifice moved the runners over and Hatting scored on a Amy Weindruch sacrifice fly.
It was in the fourth that Cortland did the most damage. Luther got two outs and loaded the bases on an error by the pitcher, a hit batter and a walk. This wildness on Luther pitcher Becca Girvan was their undoing as Meola singled in two runs and two batters later was part of the four RBI swing of Cassie Kardias.
Cortland (34-15) will meet the winner of the Montclair State-Tufts game in the winners bracket final on Sunday. Luther (33-10) draws Texas-Tyler in the first contest of the day.