WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Mount Mary University softball team opened the inaugural Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Softball Championship Thursday evening, falling to University of Mary Washington, 4-1, at 5 Diamonds at Infinity Fields in Waukesha.
The loss dropped Mount Mary—which entered the tournament as the #6-seed—to 6-25 overall on the year, while #3-seed Mary Washington improved to 11-16.
The Blue Angels managed just two hits against Eagle hurler Caitlyn Burch, who struck out seven and walked just one. MMU freshman Brianna Lupa (Plano, Ill./Plano) added six strikeouts of her own, giving up eight hits and also walking one.
UMW started the game off in dramatic fashion, lining a triple to the right field. An ensuing sacrifice fly would put it up 1-0 just two batters in.
Junior Aislinn Strusz (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) answered with a deep triple of her own—and to nearly the same spot—for her first three-bagger of the season. Freshman Marissa Heraly (Brillion, Wis./Brillion) then came through clutch with an RBI single to right to lock the game at 1-1.
The Eagles paired back-to-back two-out doubles in the home half of the third to retake the lead, then added two runs in the sixth off two singles and a double.
Aside from a leadoff walk issued to freshman Sam Allen (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows) in the seventh, MMU had no batters reach base over the final four innings.
The Blue Angels remain alive in the Consolation Bracket and will play #4-seed Southern Virginia University Friday. The Knights defeated #5-seed Finlanda University 8-0 in a five-inning contest in the First Round, then fell to top-seeded Salisbury University in the Quarterfinals, 9-1 in five innings. Mary Washington dropped its Quarterfinal game against #2-seed Christopher Newport, 14-2, also in five innings.
A five-hour rain delay pushed the series opener into the evening hours, as MMU and UMW were originally scheduled for a noon start. Tournament personnel and Infinity Fields grounds crew worked diligently to get all four games in both rounds completed under the lights Thursday evening.
Weather permitting, Friday's elimination games in the Consolation Bracket are slated for a noontime start. Mount Mary will battle Southern Virginia on Field 3, while University of Mary Washington will play Finlandia on Field 4. All contests are at Infinity Fields.
Follow along with the action on Mount Mary Athletics social media profiles.
CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 6
First Round – 5 pm
#3 Mary Washington def. #6 Mount Mary, 4-1
#4 Southern Virginia def. #5 Finlandia, 8-0 (5)
Quarterfinals – 7 pm
#2 Christopher Newport def. #3 Mary Washington, 14-2 (5)
#1 Salisbury def. Southern Virginia, 9-1 (5)
Friday, May 7
Consolation Bracket – Noon
Field 3 – #4 Southern Virginia v. #6 Mount Mary
Field 4 – #3 Mary Washington v. #5 Finlandia
Semifinal – 2:30 pm
Field 3 – #1 Salisbury v. #2 Christopher Newport
Consolation Bracket – 2:30 pm
Field 4 – Winners of Noon Consolation Games
Saturday, May 8
Consolation Bracket – 10 am
Championship Series – 12:30 pm & 3 pm (if necessary)
