May 3, 2009

Box Score

Milwaukee, Wis. - Another top seed fell in the third and final day of the tournament, as No. 4 Dominican rallied from a loss in its previous game to Concordia to drop No. 2 Lakeland College, 14-13, knocking the Muskies out of the tournament in an unbelievable record-setting game showcasing the power-hitters on both squads.

The Stars cracked a mind-boggling six home runs in the game while the Muskies added five, tying a pair of NCAA Division III records for the eighth and 10th-most home runs in a single game by a team, respectively. Both squads seemed to run out of fresh pitchers in this third day of tournament play, as each team switched back and forth between three pitchers in the game with none of them managing to evade many hits.

Left fielder Megan Day's (Zionsville, IN) home run on the first pitch of the game certainly set the tone for what was to come, giving the Stars the early 1-0 lead.

Lakeland (30-10) brought its big bats to the field without question, but its defensive game was somewhat non-existent as the Muskies committed seven errors in the game, four in a third inning that saw Dominican score four unearned runs on three hits. The first of the errors was committed with two outs, forcing pitcher Sara Roberts to spend more time in the circle.

The Stars went on to explode for six runs on three home runs in the top of the fourth to build an 11-5 lead. Reliever Alyssa Nelson picked up the pitching duties for a fourth inning that would see two more pitching changes as Dominican batted its way through Lakeland's throwing options.

Abbey Bullerdick (New Market, IN) kicked off the barrage with a 3-run shot off Nelson that soon brought Roberts back to the circle following another base hit. However, throwing a total of 18 innings in a three-game battle to avoid that second loss yesterday may have taken its toll on Roberts, as Kurcz promptly belted a two-run homer to bring on another pitching change.

Cassie Felton entered the circle, still lacking a single out in the inning, to immediately surrender the Stars' second consecutive jack over the fence as first baseman Katie Jensen (Des Plaines, IL) completed the home run trio for the inning. Felton would stay in the circle for the remainder of the game.

Dominican held a comfortable 14-8 edge heading into Lakeland's last at-bat, but the Muskies refused to go down easy swinging away for another two home runs. Stars' reliever Carissa Stewart (Arlington Heights, IL) started the seventh, but was quickly pulled following three consecutive hits, including right fielder Kayla VandeWettering's second home run of the day for 2 RBI.

Shelley Kurcz (Crown Point, IN) closed out the game in the circle, but not before giving up a two-run shot over the fence to short stop KC Blahnik to put the Muskies in striking distance with their 12th and 13th runs. Catcher Christina Moore managed to scratch out a double, but her squad went down with three outs on plays from the shortstop to the first baseman to end the game in the Stars' favor and hand Lakeland its walking papers.

In addition to closing out the game at pitcher, giving up 10 hits and seven runs in three innings, Kurcz went yard twice for 3 RBI. Shortstop Caroline Rogers (Moline, IL) went 3-for-5 at the plate with a home run and a pair of doubles, while freshman Jori Cicale (Steger, IL) also had two hits.

Cicale picked up the win in the circle, throwing four innings and scattering five hits for two earned runs and three strikeouts. Roberts, who homered in the game, was pegged with the loss giving up six hits in three innings with only two earned runs.

Blahnik and Moore also hit shots over the fence in addition to those by Roberts and VandeWettering, and also led the offense with success in three out of their five trips to the plate and 3 RBI apiece. Third baseman Sam Shepeck also had three hits on four attempts with a big RBI double to spark Lakeland's near-rally in the seventh.