Box Score Full Replay on NCAA.comSALEM, Va. – Erin Quense homered, but 19th-ranked Armstrong Atlantic responded with five unanswered runs as the Pirates took a 5-1 decision from West Chester University in the opening game of the 2014 NCAA Division II National Finals at sun-splashed James I. Moyer Sports Complex Thursday.
West Chester (41-21) will take on LIU-Post (50-10) in an elimination game Saturday at noon. Armstrong Atlantic (36-13) advances into the winner's bracket and will face top-ranked West Texas A&M (57-7) at 4 p.m. on Friday.
Quense led off the top half of the third inning with her ninth home run of the season that put the Golden Rams on top, 1-0. However, Armstrong Atlantic answered right back with a two-out rally aided by an error that allowed an unearned run to tie the game. For the first three innings, Kim Murl seemed to have her good stuff. She worked ahead in the count and induced six ground ball outs against the Pirates' powerful lineup.
"We knew (Murl) was a drop-ball pitcher," Armstrong Atlantic head coach Ted Evans said. "We thought we were ready for that. But, the first time around it didn't look like we had even practiced for it. But, we made some adjustments and started hitting the ball square."
Armstrong's Haley Ellis and Alexis Mercer were the first to make those adjustments, each hitting home runs to left that put the Pirates on top, 3-1. Mercer's smash was her 23rd of the season. Hannah Reppert doubled in a run in the fifth inning, and Mercer singled up the middle to chase home the final run of the ballgame and make it a 5-1 score.
From there, Pirates right-hander, Olivia McLemore (25-6), shut the door thanks in part to three double plays. West Chester put the lead runner on base in each of the final three innings, but could not overcome the double plays to push any runs across. McLemore scattered three hits over seven innings while walking three and striking out one. Armstrong also took advantage of two West Chester errors to score a pair of unearned runs in the game.
"I don't think we were as sharp defensively," West Chester head coach Diane Lokey said. "But, when you get to this level, hard work and a little bit of luck can take you a long way. We hit the ball hard. We just hit it right at people. That's how (Armstrong) got most of their double plays. We weren't lucky today."
Murl (23-11) went the distance inside the circle for the Golden Rams, allowing five runs on 10 hits. She walked one and did not strike out a batter. Unfortunately, her one walk came with the bases loaded and two outs in the third inning that allowed the Pirates to tie the game.
"We have faced adversity all season," senior outfielder Kelly Anderson said. "We will take some time off tomorrow to come out and watch some softball. Then, come back on Saturday ready to play."
Laura Altenburger and Jill Murray recorded West Chester's other two hits, outside of Quense's homer. Those pair of hits led off the fifth inning. However, Quense grounded into a 5-4-3 double play, and Begley grounded out to first base to end the threat.
Megan Kelly walked to lead off the sixth, but was stranded at second. Murl walked to lead off the seventh and was cut down at second on a fielder's choice grounder by Altenburger. However, Murray's lined shot was stabbed by a diving Pirates' shortstop, Mercer. She got to her feet and doubled off Altenburger to end the game.
Saturday's game can be heard live on WCHE 1520 AM. It can also be seen live via a web stream broadcast provided by the NCAA at NCAA.com.
NOTES: West Chester falls to 0-3 all-time against Armstrong Atlantic … West Chester's all-time record in the NCAA Tournament is now 9-8 … Thursday's game marked the first College World Series game for West Chester's softball program … May 22 marks the latest date in the spring that West Chester's softball program has ever played an intercollegiate game … West Chester played its school-record 62nd contest of the season … that breaks the baseball team's school record of 61 games played in 2006 … it also ties the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference record for games played in a single season (Bloomsburg in 2000, Shippensburg in 2004 and Kutztown in 2008) … OF Megan Kelly and 2B Jess Schuck appeared in their 62nd games of the season … that ties the PSAC mark shared by 11 players … West Chester is 1-3 all-time against LIU-Post … the two have not met since 2001.
