Online: http://pacathletics.org/news/2013/5/3/SB_0503133128.aspx
Championship website: http://pacathletics.org/sports/2013/4/30/SB_0430134419.aspx
2013 PAC Softball Championship Tournament
Hosted by Westminster College – New Wilmington, Pa.
Thursday, May 2
Game A (11 a.m.): (4) Thomas More, (1) Westminster 1
Game B (1 p.m.): (2) Geneva 6, (3) W&J 3
Game C (3 p.m.): (4) Thomas More 8, (2) Geneva 0 (6 inn.)
Game D (5 p.m.): (3) W&J 5, (1) Westminster 4
Friday, May 3
Game E (1 p.m.): (2) Geneva 3, (3) W&J 0
Game F – Championship (3 p.m.): (4) Thomas More 3, (2) Geneva 1
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – Fourth-seeded Thomas More College posted a pair of Thursday wins on the opening day of the 2013 Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Softball Championship Tournament, but it was Friday’s 3-1 victory over second-seeded Geneva College that locked up the conference championship for the Saints.
The 2013 title for Thomas More is its third in program history (2013, 2010, 2009). The Saints have earned appearances in the conference championship tournament in seven of its eight years as a PAC member.
The victory also gives the Saints the PAC’s automatic berth in next week’s NCAA Division III Softball Tournament. The tournament’s selection show, along with its regional assignments, is scheduled for Monday, May 6 at 10 a.m.
Thomas More (23-17) is the second-straight number four seed to claim the PAC title, following Geneva’s (22-18) terrific two-day run a year ago.
Thomas More took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when junior center fielder Ashley Fletcher scored on a RBI single by freshman right fielder Mamee Salzer. The Saints extended their lead to 2-0 in the fifth when Salzer scored on a Geneva fielding miscue.
In the top of the sixth the Saints increased their lead to 3-0 when freshman designated player Haley Shuemake scored on a RBI single by sophomore second baseman Hannah Curtis.
Geneva plated a run in the bottom of the seventh on a RBI double by freshman center fielder Elyssa Simko, but junior pitcher Ronni Burns was able to bounce back and notch a strikeout to end Geneva’s rally.
Burns earned the win in the circle for the Saints, going seven innings and giving up just one run (earned) on six hits while striking out seven.
Shuemake finished 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored to pace Thomas More at the plate. Salzer finished 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored while junior third baseman Alex Walter went 2-for-3.
Freshman starter Samantha Johnson suffered the loss for Geneva, allowing three runs (2 earned) on eight hits in six innings of work. Johnson also led the Golden Tornadoes at the plate, finishing 2-for-3.
Following the conclusion of Friday’s trophy presentation Thomas More’s Walter, Salzer and junior first baseman Stefaney Turner were selected to the PAC All-Tournament team, while Burns was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Geneva junior shortstop Ashley Davis and freshman first baseman Laura Beck also earned spots on the conference’s All-Tournament team.
Rounding out the All-Tournament team were Westminster College junior left fielder Erika Pamer and Washington & Jefferson College’s junior shortstop Kelsey Cunningham and freshman pitcher Emily Watson.