The West Virginia Wesleyan Lady Bobcats went down fighting to the Indiana (PA) University Crimson Hawks in the loser’s bracket finals contest of the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament Saturday evening at Bloomsburg, PA.
The Lady Bobcats lost a 3-2 decision on a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning to end their run in the tournament. They closed out the year with a 44-13 record.
Wesleyan struck first in the contest with a run in the top of the second inning. Kashilia Young led off the inning with a double to leftfield, went to third on a bunt single by Paige Cummings, and scored on Desiree Sibera’s (pictured) sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Wesleyan starting pitcher K. C. Carey had limited Indiana to just three hits during the first four innings of play, but ran into some trouble in the bottom of the fifth.
With one out, Sam Goettman doubles to left field and Monica Iachini sent pinch runners Jen Beaver to third with a single to leftfield. Following a steal of second by Iachini, Marisssa Leslie grounded out to short sending Beaver home and Iachini to third. Dee Eppinger smacked a double to centerfield that scored Iachini and gave Indiana a 2-1 lead.
Wesleyan pulled out their rally caps in the top of the seventh and tied the game at 2-2. Alex Whisner hit a two-out single and went to second on an error. Whisner scored on a single by Shelby Carlson.
Indiana pulled out the victory in the bottom of the seventh. Goettman and Iachini started off the inning with consecutive singles. Wesleyan managed the first out of the inning getting Goettman at third base on a fielder’s choice hit by Marissa Leslie. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch, and Eppinger ended the game with a single that scored Iachini.
Wesleyan had seven hits in the contest with Carlson leading the way with two.
Carey (20-5) pitched well but suffered the setback on the mound. She went the distance and gave up just three earned runs on 10 hits and didn’t walk a batter.
Iachini led Indiana’s 10-hit attack with three hits.
Erin Holloway (27-7) went the distance to pick up the win. She gave up two runs on seven hits.
Indiana (37-11) and Bloomsburg (47-5) will battle Sunday at noon for the regional title.