W&J Claims Program’s Third PAC Softball Championship 5/2/2014 1:41:52 PM 2014 PAC Softball Championship Tournament Hosted by Thomas More College – Crestview Hills, Ky. Thursday, May 1 Game A: (1) Thomas More 4, (4) Bethany 3 (10 inn.) Game B: (2) Geneva 5, (3) W&J 2 Game C: (2) Geneva 5, (1) Thomas More 4 Game D: (3) W&J 3, (4) Bethany 2 Friday, May 2 Game E: (3) W&J 1, (1) Thomas More 0 Game F: (3) W&J 1, (2) Geneva 0 Game G: (3) W&J 6, (2) Geneva 3 CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. (pacathletics.org) – The propensity for delivering timely, two-out scoring highlighted third-seeded Washington & Jefferson College’s run to the 2014 Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Softball Championship Tournament title Friday afternoon. The Presidents wrapped up the program’s third conference crown (1996, 2006) by winning three-straight games on the final day of the tournament, including a 6-3 victory over second-seeded Geneva College in the tournament’s “if necessary” game. The conference championship tournament was hosted by top-seeded Thomas More College. W&J is the first three seed to play its way to a PAC title since 2008, when Bethany College bested fourth-seeded Waynesburg University 2-1. The Presidents are the fifth number three seed to win the league title since 2002. By claiming this year’s tournament title, W&J secures 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 5 at 10 a.m. and can be seen on ncaa.com. Following the conclusion of Friday’s trophy presentation, W&J sophomore Krista McCartney (Salem, Ohio/United Local) was recognized as the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. She earned the title game victory for the Presidents, marking her fourth win over the two-day championship event. 2014 PAC Softball All-Tournament Team Position Name Class School Hometown/High School 1B Deanna Mihalco So. Bethany Patterson, N.Y./Brewster OF Laura Beck So. Geneva Canfield, Ohio/Canfield SS Ashley Davis Sr. Geneva New Middletown, Ohio/Springfield Local 2B Christina Fuqua Sr. Geneva Derwood, Md./Richard Montgomery DP Haley Shuemake So. Thomas More Loveland, Ohio/Loveland SS Ana Walter So. Thomas More Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon SS Kelsey Cunningham Sr. W&J McMurray, Pa./Peters Township P Krista McCartney So. W&J Salem, Ohio/United Local P/1B Madison Rotto Sr. W&J Sarver, Pa./Freeport DP Emily Watson So. W&J Harmony, Pa./Seneca Valley GAME G (3) W&J vs. (2) Geneva – Crestview Hills, Ky. | Thomas More Field W&J 6, Geneva 3 box score CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. – Trailing Geneva 1-0 after two full frames, W&J exploded for five runs in the top of the third and was able to limit the Golden Tornadoes to just a pair of runs over the final five innings to secure the 6-3 “if necessary” game victory and claim the league’s championship tournament title. Sophomore starter Krista McCartney (Salem, Ohio/United Local) picked up the title game win for the Presidents. In 4.0 innings of action, she allowed two runs on three hits and moved her season record to 12-3. Sophomore Emily Watson (Harmony, Pa./Seneca Valley) pitched scoreless sixth and seventh innings to register the save. Watson was 2-for-4 at the plate and scored a run as the Presidents’ designated player before entering the circle. Senior first baseman Madison Rotto’s (Sarver, Pa./Freeport) two-out, two-run single in the third capped the Presidents’ five-run flurry in the frame. Freshman left fielder Courtney Roperti (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) chipped in with a pair of hits and a RBI. Geneva, playing in its third-straight league championship game, was led by sophomore right fielder Laura Beck (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield), who finished 2-for-3 with a home run. Sophomore starter Samantha Johnson (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) suffered the complete-game loss for the GTs, allowing six runs (2 earned) on nine hits. GAME F (3) W&J vs. (2) Geneva – Crestview Hills, Ky. | Thomas More Field W&J 1, Geneva 0 box score CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. – W&J was able to make sophomore designated player Emily Watson’s (Harmony, Pa./Seneca Valley) two-out, RBI single in the first hold and force the rarely-used “if necessary” game for the league championship title. Since 2002, the “if necessary” game has been required just five times. Sophomore starter Krista McCartney (Salem, Ohio/United Local) posted a four-hit shutout to claim her third-straight victory in the championship tournament. She also struck out three and did not allow a walk. Senior first baseman Madison Rotto (Sarver, Pa./Freeport) finished 2-for-3 at the plate for W&J. Geneva senior shortstop Ashley Davis (New Middletown, Ohio/Springfield Local) and senior third baseman Mackenzie Kemerer (Freedom, Pa./Freedom) each notched a pair of base hits in the loss. Sophomore starter Samantha Johnson (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) allowed one run on five hits while striking out three. GAME E (3) W&J vs. (1) Thomas More – Crestview Hills, Ky. | Thomas More Field W&J 1, Thomas More 0 box score CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. – W&J was able to stave off elimination for the second time in as many games, thanks to senior shortstop Kelsey Cunningham’s (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) two-out, run-scoring double in the top of the seventh. Friday morning’s win put the Presidents in the league’s championship game for the fourth time in program history. W&J sophomore starter Krista McCartney (Salem, Ohio/United Local) fired a three-hit shutout, walking three and striking out four. Two of the Saints’ base hits against McCartney were infield singles and she allowed just one hit after the second inning. Thomas More senior starter Ronni Burns (Dayton, Ohio/Carroll) was saddled with the elimination-game loss despite surrendering just one run on four hits while striking out five. Burns retired nine of the first 10 batters she faced. GAME D (4) Bethany vs. (3) W&J – Crestview Hills, Ky. | Thomas More Field W&J 3, Bethany 2 box score CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. – Junior second baseman Jen Bahm’s (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) two-out, RBI single in the fourth gave W&J a 1-0 lead over Bethany in Thursday’s elimination game. Sophomore designated player Emily Watson (Harmony, Pa./Seneca Valley) roped a two-run single in the fifth put the Presidents in front 3-0. Bethany would scratch out a pair of runs in the sixth to trim the Presidents’ lead to just one, 3-2. Sophomore starter Krista McCartney (Salem, Ohio/United Local) allowed a pair of singles after retiring the first two batters of the frame to see the Bison set up with the game-tying run at third, but a terrific play in foul territory by senior first baseman Madison Rotto (Sarver, Pa./Freeport) would allow W&J to advance to the tournament’s second day. McCartney limited Bethany to two runs (one earned) on five hits in the complete-game win. Junior shortstop Jessica Kusnierz (New Castle, Pa./Shenango) had a pair of hits for the Bison. GAME C (2) Geneva vs. (1) Thomas More – Crestview Hills, Ky. | Thomas More Field Geneva 5, Thomas More 4 box score CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. – Freshman first baseman Lucia Fee’s (Wampum, Pa./Mohawk) two-out, two-run double in the seventh gave Geneva a 5-3 lead over Thomas More, and following a Thomas More leadoff home run by freshman first baseman Jamie Ertel (Mt. Healthy, Ohio/McAuley) in the bottom of the frame, sophomore starter Samantha Johnson (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) was able to strand a pair of runners in scoring position to help the GTs secure the 5-4 victory. Johnson surrendered 12 hits and four runs while walking seven in her 7.0 innings of work. She was also a factor with the bat, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBIs in the win. Senior second baseman Christina Fuqua (Derwood, Md./Richard Montgomery) went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and three runs scored to aid the Geneva offense. Thomas More junior left fielder Catie Luck (Maineville, Ohio/Little Miami) finished 2-for-3 with a home run, RBI and run scored while sophomore designated player Haley Shuemake (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) and sophomore shortstop Ana Walter (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon) each chipped in with a pair of hits. GAME B (3) W&J vs. (2) Geneva – Crestview Hills, Ky. | Thomas More Field Geneva 5, W&J 2 box score CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. – Freshman catcher Abby Cunningham’s (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) two-out, RBI single in the fifth gave third-seeded W&J a 2-1 edge over second-seeded Geneva, but a six-hit, four-run sixth put the Golden Tornadoes in position to continue playing out of the winner’s bracket. sophomore starter Samantha Johnson (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) allowed a pair of runs on 11 hits in her 7.0 innings of work while totaling four strikeouts. Sophomore right fielder Laura Beck (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) paced the GTs offensively, finishing 3-for-3 with a home run, a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored. Senior shortstop Kelsey Cunningham (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) and freshman left fielder Courtney Roperti (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) each went 2-for-4 with a run scored for W&J. GAME A (4) Bethany vs. (1) Thomas More – Crestview Hills, Ky. | Thomas More Field Thomas More 4, Bethany 3 (10 inn.) box score CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. – Thursday’s 10-inning affair between top-seeded Thomas More and fourth-seeded Bethany was the first extra-innings matchup in the conference tournament since May 1, 2009, when second-seeded Bethany edged top-seeded Thomas More 7-6 in 10 innings. Sophomore first baseman Deanna Mihalco’s (Patterson, N.Y./Brewster) two-out, RBI single in the top of the seventh gave the Bison a 3-2 advantage, but a two-out, RBI double from sophomore shortstop Ana Walter (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon) in the bottom of the frame would force extras in Thursday’s opener. The two squads battled through scoreless eighth and ninth innings before freshman first baseman Jamie Ertel’s (Mt. Healthy, Ohio/McAuley) two-out, walkoff RBI single scored sophomore designated player Haley Shuemake (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) from second to give the host Saints the win. Sophomore Mamee Salzer (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) picked up the win in relief of senior starter Ronni Burns (Dayton, Ohio/Carroll). Burns went 7.0 innings, allowing three runs (2 earned) on seven hits with eight strikeouts. Salzer worked the final 3.0 frames, allowing just three hits. Ana Walter and Shuemake each had a pair of hits for the Saints, while Ertel finished with two RBIs. Mihalco went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs for the Bison.