Dutchwomen take third straight ECAC title
Courtesy of Union Sports Information
SCHENECTADY, NY – For the third consecutive year the Union
College softball team claimed the ECAC DIII Championship. The
top-seeded Dutchwomen went a perfect 3-0 during the tournament and
knocked off fourth-seeded RPI, 9-4, in the title game. Senior
Bridget Graham (Orchard Park, NY) was named the tournament’s
most outstanding player as Union concludes the 2009 season with a
31-6 record.
The Dutchwomen eased its way into the championship game with wins
against RPI (4-0) and third-seeded Alfred (9-1). After the opening
round loss, the Red Hawks earned a spot in the final game with wins
against Brockport (3-1) and Alfred (5-2). They finish the season
with a 15-14 record.
For the tournament Graham batted .462 (6-for-13) with a home run,
three RBI, a .692 slugging percentage and a .462 on-base
percentage. She led off the title game with a solo home run,
sparking a six-run inning for the Dutchwomen. Senior Megan Kaknis
(New Windsor, NY) added an RBI single three batters later before
sophomore DH Alexandra King (Chester Springs, PA) hit a three-run
shot. After RPI produced the first out of the inning, freshman
catcher Nina Cervini (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) made is 6-0
with a solo shot.
Union added two runs in the second, but RPI responded with a run
in the third off the bat of senior outfielder Sara Finkbeiner
(Napanoch, NY). The Red Hawks than posted three runs in the fourth
with home runs by senior outfielder Julianne Bass (Costa Mesa, CA)
and sophomore third baseman Gen Falco (Seaford, NY). Kaknis scored
on an error in the bottom of the fourth to make it 9-4 and the
Dutchwomen defense shut the door the rest of the way.
Junior pitcher Tiffany Ippoliti (Schuylerville, NY/Schuylerville)
threw 4.2 innings, striking out five, before junior Ginni Sack
(Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills) supplied 2.1 innings of hitless
relief. RPI used four pitchers in the game and Finkbeiner stood
out, whiffing two batters and allowing zero runs in three innings.
Initial Press Release:
After finishing the regular-season with a 28-6 record, Union College was selected as the number one seed in the 2009 ECAC Division III Upstate Softball Championship. The tournament is a six-team field with first round, semifinal and championship rounds.
In the first round contest on Wednesday, May 6, 2009, No. 4 PRI (23-12) will host No. 5 Elmira College (16-10) at a time 4:00pm, while No. 3 Alfred University (25-9) will host No. 6 Medaille (20-18) at 7:00pm. No. 1 Union College and No. Brockport (28-11), received receive first round byes.
The first-round winners will advance to the semifinals on Saturday, May 9. The winner of No. 4 PRI (23-12)/No. 5 Elmira College (16-10) match up will face No. 1 Union College at 10:00am.
The other semifinal match-up will be the winner of the No. 3 Alfred University (25-9)/No. 6 Medaille (20-18) vs. Brockport at 12:00pm
The Loser of semifinal game 1 will play the loser of semifinal game 2 at 2:00pm and the winner of semifinal game 1 will face the winner of semifinal game 2 at 4:00pm.
The championship is a double elimination format once in the semifinals.
2009 ECAC Division III Upstate Softball Championship
First Round - Wednesday,
May 6
No. 4 RPI, 3 vs. No. 5 Elmira, 0 Box
Score Game
Story
No. 3 Alfred, 6 vs. No. 6 Medaille,
3 Box
Score
Semifinals - Saturday,
May 9 at Union College
No. 4 RPI, 0 vs. No. 1 Union College,
4
No. 3 Alfred University, 2 vs. No. 2
Brockport, 0
No. 4 RPI, 3 vs. No. 2 Brockport, 1
No. 1 Union 9 vs. No. 3 Alfred, 1
Championship - Sunday,
May 10 at Union College
No. 4 RPI 5 vs. No. 3 Alfred University 2
No. 1 Union College 9 vs. No. 4 RPI 4
Box Score
