Published: May 13, 2008 12:14 am            

IU-Southeast is Region XII champs

Grenadiers going to nationals after claiming title

In only its second year of existence, the Indiana University Southeast softball team has put itself in position to win its first-ever national championship.

After losing in the first NAIA Region XII tournament final on Saturday to Virginia-Wise 5-1, the Grenadiers rebounded to win a second title game later in the day against the Highland Cavaliers 9-8 at the IU Southeast Softball Complex. The region tourney was a double-elimination format.

The region title earned IU Southeast (33-11) its first trip to the NAIA Softball National Championship, which will begin Friday in Decatur, Ala. On Friday, the Grenadiers will start poll play at 9 a.m. against California Baptist. Later in the day, they will play Shorter (Ga.) in their second pool game at 4:30 p.m.

In the first championship game on Saturday, Virginia-Wise snapped a 1-1 tie by scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

IU Southeast pitcher Brittany Bennett earned the loss. The former New Albany standout allowed four runs (two earned) on three hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Teammates Kacie DeWeese and Carmen Davis, a Floyd Central graduate, went 2-for-3. Both of DeWeese’s hits were doubles.

In the second championship game, the Highland Cavaliers (29-19) plated five runs in the top of the second to go up 5-0 and led 6-4 in the middle of the fourth. But in the bottom of the fourth, the Grenadiers scored four runs to take their first lead of the game at 8-6.

In the top of the seventh, Virginia-Wise’s Britney Lawson deadlocked the score at eight by blasting a two-run home run. But in the bottom half with two out, IU Southeast senior Michelle Reyher drove in the game-winning run with a single to right-center field.

Five Grenadiers had multihit games, led by junior Jen Bartley going 4-for-4 with four RBIs, a double and a homer. DeWeese went 3-for-5 with a double, while Jeffersonville graduate Paige Dickey, Providence alumnus SaraRose Hornung and Jennifer Harriman each collected two hits.

IU Southeast pitcher Whitney Zollman picked up the victory in relief. In 5 2/3 innings, the Charlestown graduate yielded five runs (four earned) on six hits. She struck out four and walked one.

Davis and fellow IU Southeast players Shana Andres, a Floyd graduate, and Amber Chapman made the all-Region XII team. Grenadier head coach Todd Buckingham earned Region XII Coach of the Year honors.



NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

DECATUR, ALA.

POOL A

• FRIDAY: IU Southeast vs. California Baptist, 9 a.m.; IU Southeast vs. Shorter (Ga.), 4:30 p.m.

• SATURDAY: IU Southeast vs. Bethel College, 11:30 a.m.; IU Southeast vs. Dickinson State (N.D.), 7 p.m.

        

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