Women's Softball
Allegheny outlasts Big Red to capture NCAC Tournament Championship
Date: May 5, 2007
Location: GRANVILLE
The Denison Big Red gave the Gators of Allegheny College all they could handle before falling to the Gators 2-0 in the championship game. Denison advanced to the title game by way of the loser's bracket, defeating both Hiram and Allegheny to force the championship game.
Allegheny scored the games only two runs in the bottom half of the first. Allegheny's Abby Bodenlos got to Denison starter Bri Scrofano right off the bat with a leadoff double and would eventually score on a sacrifice fly from Rachel Ryan. Katie Wills scored Allegheny second run of the inning, after reaching on an error and being driven in by an Elizabeth Burr single.
Following Allegheny's bottom of the first, a rain delay would send the teams to their dugouts for over three hours.
Neither team had scoring threats until Denison came to bat in the top of the sixth. Allegheny was able to stop this threat in dramatic fashion. With Big Red runners on second and third with one out, the Gators turned the ever rare 5-3-2 double play to get out of the jam.
Denison posed another threat in their last at bat in the top of the seventh. Denison freshman Brie Berkopec was called on to pinch hit. Berkopec came through in the clutch, hammering a pitch off the left centerfield fence for a double. This was all for not though, as two of the next three Big Red batters lined out to end the scoring chances.
Denison finishes the year at 30-15 and regular season champs of the NCAC. Allegheny is now 18-17 and will move on to the NCAA regional tournament on May 10-14 at site to be determined. Brackets will be announced on Monday, May 7. NCAC All Tournament Team is as follows: Pitcher - Rachel Thomas - Denison Pitcher - Alicia Morley - Allegheny Pitcher - Allison Korotkin - Allegheny Cameron Catalfu - Wittenberg Stephanie Zunic - Hiram Candace Barney - Denison Emily Sack - Denison Andrea Carella - Denison Ali Silver - Denison Abby Bodenlos - Allegheny Elizabeth Burr - Allegheny NCAC Tournament MVP - Rachel Ryan - Allegheny