Rambelles take LSC crown with 13-5 victory over ACU
5/2/2009 10:00:00 PM | Softball
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ABILENE ? One big inning in Friday's game gave Angelo State the advantage in an 8-3 win over Abilene Christian in a best-of-three series. But Saturday, two big innings for the Rambelles sunk the Wildcats and ASU won the 2009 Lone Star Conference Softball Championship with a 13-5 victory in a six-inning run rule win.
The Rambelles scored six runs in the fourth and sixth innings to grab the No. 1 spot in next weekend's NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament. The Wildcats, though dropping both games of the championship series are headed to the regional tournament as well.
ACU had a chance to force a third and deciding game Saturday leading 5-0 after the top of the third inning. The Rambelles scored a run in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to four, but in the fourth a six-run inning highlighted by Macy Baker's three-run homer gave ASU a 7-5 lead.
The Wildcats never got back on the board after the third inning and didn't get a hit in their final three at bats. Brooke Whittlesey drew a bases-loaded walk, Nancy Sawyers had a two-run single and Caitlin Nabors scored on an error in a four-run second inning. In the third, Emily Farrier pinch-hit and hit a sacrifice fly to score Jenny Kulp.
ASU starter Amber Haywood held ACU scoreless in the fourth and Chelsea Nelson picked up the save in the final two innings holding the Wildcats hitless.
In the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs, ASU took advantage of five errors in the field by the Wildcats and the Rambelles scored the necessary six runs needed for a run-rule victory.
Sandy James scored the game-sealing run when ACU first baseman Katie Cornelison dropped a throw by Nancy Sawyers at the bag to make the final score 13-5. James had a run-scoring single earlier in the inning and Nicole Smith had a two-run double to highlight the scoring for ASU in the sixth.
Haywood picked up the win to move to 17-4 on the season; the junior allowed five runs (two earned), walked seven and struck out two. Nelson's save was her third of the season and she walked one batter while striking out none.
Britney Benedict picked up the loss to move to 5-5 on the year for ACU. The sophomore right hander last three innings, scattered six hits, surrendered seven runs, walked three and struck out one. She also allowed all six of ASU's runs in the fourth after facing six batters without recording an out in the inning. Kim White pitched in relief for the Wildcats in the final 2.2 innings allowing four hits and six unearned runs; she walked one and struck out two.
ASU improved to 43-8 on the year while the Wildcats fell to 42-12. Tournament pairings for the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament are announced Sunday night.
Sawyers finished with a tournament-high 12 RBI in ACU's five games in the tournament and was named to the all-tournament team. Jackie Gentile, who missed the last game of the tournament with an eye injury ,was also named to the all-tournament team along with pitcher Kim Partin.
ASU's Nelson was named the tournament's MVP while Baker, Laura Lopez, Smith, and Haywood all made the all-tournament team as well for the Rambelles.
