Posted: Apr 29, 2012
With this victoy, Roanoke earns the ODAC's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Team selections will be made on Sunday, May 6, with the announcement of the tournament field set for Monday, May 7 via live Internet broadcast. Time of that show has yet to be determined. Monitor www.ncaa.com and www.ncaa.com/liveschedule for that announcement.
The Maroons came out hot as they put three runs on the board in the first inning. Leona Rainey and Alea Bier both hit doubles to start the inning, then Stephanie Clark singled, plating both Rainey and Bier. Caitlin Manuel reached on an error, where Clark scored off the mistake. After one, Roanoke led 3-0.
Bridgewater crossed the plate once in the third as Kasey Anderson scored off a Melanie Lamb single, cutting the deficit to 3-1. But, the Maroons answered in the bottom of the inning as Kelly Higbie laid down a bunt scoring Clark from third, as the Maroons go ahead 4-1 after three.
Roanoke continued to score in the fourth inning as they tallied two more runs, as Rainey scored off a Clark RBI single and Lowery hit an RBI single that scored Clark from third. After four, the Maroons were ahead 6-1.
The Eagles continued to work to put runs on the board as Hillary Rees scored off a Sarah Heretick single, pulling back within four, 6-2 after the top of the fifth inning.
Roanoke, however, scored one more run down the stretch in the bottom of the sixth inning as Hollee Warlitner scored off a Lowery two-out RBI single. Roanoke scored the final run of the game in that play, as the Maroons took home the 2012 ODAC Softball Championship over Bridgewater College 7-2.
Higbie pitched the complete game win, earning her 24th win of the season. The freshman has now tied the ODAC record for wins in a season, a mark originally set by Lynchburg's Jen Overstreet in 2004.
Rainey hit 2-for-3 on the afternoon, crossing the plate twice. Her two runs today ranks her third in Roanoke history for runs in a season Rainey is two runs shy of moving into seventh all-time in career runs scored. She is also two hits away from ranking 11th in Roanoke all-time career hits.
Clark finished the day 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Warlitner went 1-for-3 on the day crossing the plate twice.
Bridgewater's Casey Anderson led the team with two hits and scored one of the team's two runs. Sarah Heretick and Melanie Lamb each went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk.
Roanoke had four players on the ODAC All-Tournament Team. Freshman pitcher, Kelly Higbie was named the 2012 Most Outstanding Player, while three other Maroons earned All-Tournament honors for their positions: Felice Lowery (catcher), Stephanie Clark (short stop), and Leona Rainey (center field).
Bridgewater also had two players on the All-Tournament Team with Casey Anderson (second base) and Sarah Heretick (Designated/Utility Player).
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