THE FACTS
Eastern Connecticut State (24-17-1) 6, Gettysburg (28-13) 3
What: NCAA Div. III softball regional elimination game
When: Friday, May 17
Where: Virginia Beach, Va.
THE SKINNY STORY
Eastern Connecticut State rallied from an early 2-0 deficit with a four-run third inning and two-run fourth inning to defeat Gettysburg 6-2 in the first elimination game of the NCAA Div. III regional at Virginia Wesleyan.
THE LEADERS
•
Audrey Bergan (Encinitas, Calif./La Jolla Country Day School) led the Bullets with a hit, walk and two runs scored.
FOR THE FOES
• Alyssa Vilchez had two hits to help the Warriors offense while also throwing a complete game with five strikeouts.
THE REST OF THE STORY
•
Audrey Bergan led off the game with a swinging bunt before
Julia Smith (Marydel, Md./Queen Anne's County) poked an offspeed pitch through the left side. With two outs,
Carlie Goldstein (Verona, N.J./Verona) dropped a full-count single just out of the reach of a diving outfielder to score both runners and stake her team to a 2-0 lead after one-half inning.
• Kaley Laird lined a single to center to lead off the third inning before moving up to second on a sacrifice. After a fielder's choice did not get an out, Alyssa Vilchez and Julia SanGiovanni laced back-to-back singles to tie the game. Maddi Sauve then put a ball off the fence in left for a double to give Eastern Connecticut the lead and force a pitching change. Sarah Remillard dropped down a suicide squeeze that went for a base hit and a 4-2 lead.
• With one out in the fourth, Maggie Baker singled and then stole second. After a Vilchez walk, SanGiovanni was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A Sauve single into left plated Baker before pinch-runner Reagan Lalor scored on a wild pitch for a 6-2 lead.
• Bergan led off the seventh with a four-pitch walk before moving to second on a groundout, third on a wild pitch and scoring on a throwing error for the 6-3 final.
THE INSIDE STORY
•
Giovanna Komst (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) finished with one hit to end her career with 151 hits, which ranks 11th in program history.
• Eastern Connecticut will face Lebanon Valley in the regional's second elimination game at 4:30 p.m. The winner advances to Saturday's regional final against host and top seed Virginia Wesleyan and would need to defeat the Marlins twice. The first game begins at 1 p.m. with the if necessary game to follow.
