#2 C.W. Post Eliminates #6 Bryant with 4-1 Win in NCAA Regional Championship
May 13, 2007 BOX SCORE
BROOKVILLE, NY - The Bryant Bulldogs' magical run through the NCAA Northeast Regionals ended this afternoon with a 4-1 loss to tournament host and #2 seed C.W. Post. The Pioneers jumped on Bryant early, and rode pitcher Samantha Yodowitz to the win and a trip to the College World Series.
The Bulldogs mounted a late rally in the seventh, when pinch-hitter Stephanie Mirando (North Haven, CT) drove in Kate Thomas (Bedford, NH). But the Bulldogs lost two runners on the basepaths, catcher Ashley Coon (Fairless Hills, PA) on runner's interference and Jennifer Serrano (Stoneham, Mass.) attempting to go from first to third on a single.
The Pioneers jumped out in front in the first inning. Second baseman Serrano muffed a throw from pitcher Janine Enos (Wareham, Mass.) to allow leadoff hitter Melissa Medina to reach. After Jill Fisher singled, Medina would come home on a Melissa Hippo sacrifice fly. Enos would strike out the next batter, Christie Softy, to end the inning.
The Bulldogs' defense, a strength all tournament, finally betrayed them in the game. In addition to Serrano's error, a Yodowitz single scooted under right fielder Thomas' glove in the second to put runner's on second and third with one out. Both runners would score when the next batter, Medina, singled them in.
The Regional Tournament Player of the Year, Yodowitz, stifled the Bulldog bats all game, going seven full innings and allowing just 1 runs on 6 hits.
Enos was making her sixth start in four days of this tournament, and went 5.2 innings. She allowed only one earned run on eight hits while striking out four. She gave way to senior Nikki Ingalls (Westford, Mass.) who went the final inning and a third.
Four Bulldogs were named to the All-Regional Team; outfielder Wilbur, pitcher Enos, outfielder Lindsay Connor (West Haven, CT) and second baseman Amanda Gagne (Wilbraham, Mass.).
With the win, the Pioneers capture the Northeast Regional crown and move on to the Division II College World Series in Akron, Ohio. It was the Pioneers' record 45th win of the season and will mark the school's first trip to the College World Series.
The Bulldogs finish their season 28-18, and were 19-9 in the Northeast-10. This was the most games (4) that the Bulldogs had ever won in an NCAA Tournament.
The game marked the final game in the careers of seniors Connor, Briana Durborow (Ringoes, NJ), Gagne, Ingalls, Lauren McNiff (Westford, Mass.), and Wilbur. The six comprise the winningest class in Bryant softball history, reaching the NCAA Touranment all four years.
