Lady Wildcats Finish Third in World Series
May 19th, 2008SALEM, Vir. - Suzanne Gersich’s two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning lifted the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to a 2-1 win over Louisiana College in the loser’s bracket final in the NCAA III World Series. The loss gives LC (44-7) a third-place national finish, and ties this year’s LC team for 19th for most wins in a season in NCAA Division III Softball.
The game was a classic pitcher’s duel. LC’s McCaslin Carson (18-4) and Whitewater’s Jessica Stang (18-4) went toe-to-toe for five innings. In the sixth inning LC scratched across a run when Erica Harwell had an infield single and scored on McCaslin Carson’s double two batter’s later.
Whitewater didn’t waste any time making their comeback as in the bottom of the sixth, Amy Gahl had a one-out double to start the Warhawk rally. After a groundout moved Gahl to third, Gersich hit a home run to left center on the first pitch she saw, putting Whitewater up 2-1. Stang made the lead hold up as she set down the Lady Wildcats in order in the top of the seventh inning.
Stang struck out 13 hitters and allowed only five hits. Besides the sixth inning, LC’s best scoring opportunity to score came in the top of the fourth inning when the Lady Wildcats loaded the bases with no one out. But Stang buckled down and struck out two consecutive hitters and coaxed a groundout to end the threat.
Carson threw six strong innings, allowing only four hits while striking out four. Offensively, each of LC’s five hits came from five different players. Shortstop Ashleigh Clement did reach base leading off each game of the series.