May 12, 2007
PROVIDENCE, RI - Seventh-seeded Emerson College came from behind twice in extra innings to down fifth-seeded Endicott College, 3-2, in an elimination game of the 2007 NCAA Division III New England Regional Softball Tournament at Rhode Island College on Saturday morning.
It took over two hours for either team to crack the scoring column as Endicott freshman third baseman Sarah Spaziano (Norton, MA/Norton) hit a two-out single to left field to score Danielle Sargent (Sabattus, ME/Oak Hill) in the top of the11th inning to put the Gulls up 1-0.
The Lions notched the equalizer in the bottom of the inning. Jen Boyden (Chester, NH) and Mallory Moretti (Westerly, RI) each singled. Then, with two outs and runners on first and second, Catie McDonough (North Adams, MA) singled to left field to score Boyden and tie the game a 1-1.
Emerson almost won the game as freshman Bridget Farago (Oneonta, NY) nearly legged out a grounder to shortstop but Jenna Lazar (Milton, MA/Milton) kept the Gulls alive with a fantastic throw to first.
Lazar would later drive in the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th as she belted a two-out RBI triple to left field to score Paula McGinn (Lynn, MA/Lynn Classical), but the Lions answered with the tying and decisive runs in the bottom of the frame to win the game and send the Gulls back to Beverly.
Maria Mangine (Lockport, NY/Lockport) pitched four innings of scoreless softball for the Blue and Green, allowing seven hits, while striking out three. Mangine surrendered two leadoff hits to the Lions in the top of the fifth and was lifted for senior Robyn Savitske (Hellertown, PA/Saucon Vallet) who retired the next three batters to end the inning.
Savitske threw seven innings, allowing two runs on eight hits, while striking out five. Sophomore Jackie Collier (Swampscott, MA) came on in relief in the 12th for Savitske, but could not stop the Lions' surge. She allowed one run on two hits.
Heather Drobiarz (Old Saybrook, CT) earned her 14th (14-8) win of the season as she allowed two runs on 10 hits, while striking out three, to earn her 16th complete game. The Gulls got some clutch defense to keep them in the game but Drobiarz was able to get herself out of a few jams to lead Emerson on in the tournament.
The Lions improve to 24-17 and advance to play the winner of fourth-seeded Keene State vs. third-seeded Wellesley (1:30) at 5:30 p.m., in an elimination game. The Gulls fall to 31-12 and bow out of the tournament with their second loss. EC Completes its fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament with a 1-2 record after beating Keene State on Thursday but falling to top-seeded Rhode Island College on Friday and then dropping the extra inning game to Emerson this afternoon.
