Gators Advance with Extra-Inning Win

May 4, 2007

Box Score

GRANVILLE, Ohio – Trailing 3-1 heading into its last at bat, the Allegheny College softball team knotted its North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament first round game with Wittenberg University with a pair of runs in the seventh inning, before tacking on another pair in the eighth to secure a 5-3 victory and advance in the winner’s bracket. The Gators will play Denison later this afternoon.

Allegheny (16-16), which was swept by Wittenberg (27-12) in a doubleheader just a week ago, didn’t muster much of a threat against Tiger starter Rachel Hatcher early on, managing just three hits through the first six innings. The Gators did manage to plate the opening run, however, as Elizabeth Burr (Farmdale, Ohio/Badger) cracked a triple to right-center and scored on an error by the second baseman.

The Tigers jumped on the board in the fourth inning with a pair of run-scoring singles by Grace Wigton and Sarah Fetters against freshman Allison Korotkin (Birmingham, Mich./Detroit Country Day). Stephanie Zorn added another run for Wittenberg with a lead-off home run down the left-field line to start the fifth.

In the seventh, Allegheny finally seemed to solve Hatcher as Burr began the inning with a walk and Rebecca Burns (St. Rogersville, Pa./West Greene) followed with a single. After a sacrifice advanced the runners, the Tiger hurler appeared on the verge of getting out of the jam by getting a fly out and facing a freshman pinch hitter in Maggie Bodenlos (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy). But, the change panned out for the Gators as Bodenlos singled home Burr and then Burns came around to score on another Wittenberg error.

Allegheny once again made some noise early the following inning with Crystal Ptacek (Allison Park, Pa./North Allegheny) leading off with a double and coming around to score on a single by Katie Wills (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour). Wittenberg then made the mistake of pitching to sophomore standout Rachel Ryan (West Salem, Ohio/Northwestern), who promptly doubled home Wills for an insurance run.

Korotkin allowed a single to start the bottom of the eighth, and then faced the daunting task of facing the top of the Tiger lineup. The Gator first-year never wavered, however, making Fetters hit a grounder to second, inducing the 4-6-3 double play. Korotkin walked the next batter, but enticed Julie Ziegler, who led Wittenberg with a pair of hits, to hit a fly out to center field.

Ptacek and Wills each finished the game 2-for-4, while Burr reached base twice via a walk and a single. Korotkin improved her record to 7-4 this spring by allowing just three runs and stranding a dozen Tigers on the base paths.

For a full schedule and up-to-date information on the 2007 NCAC Tournament, please visit the official website by clicking HERE

Printable Version