Box Score

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The LeMoyne College softball team scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning and held on to defeat No. 18 nationally ranked Southern Connecticut in the first Northeast-10 Conference Tournament semifinal game on Friday, 2-1. The Owls will now play Assumption in an elimination game at 3 p.m. today.

The Owls threatened in the bottom of the fourth inning. Brittany Bucko (Wallington, N.J.) started the inning off with a walk. Nicole Buch (Darien, Conn.) followed suit with a bunt down the left field line. With runners on first and second, first baseman Kristin Whitley (North Andover, Mass.) followed with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to advance the runners into scoring position. SCSU was unable to connect on the opportunity, keeping the game scoreless entering the fifth.
 
Southern regrouped posting a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jessica Rosa (Wallingford, Conn.) started the inning off with a single hit to right center. Stacy Pouliot (Mystic, Conn.) followed up with a huge double to center field advancing pinch runner Sarah Koerner (Coventry, R.I.) to advance to third base. Shawna Mallory's (Simi Valley, Calif.) attempt to bring home Koerner fell short after a fielder's choice tag at home plate. Pouliot advanced to third  and Mallory proceeded to first. Bucko walked on the next play loading the bases for Buch. With two outs, Buch connected on an RBI single to send home teammate Pouliot to give the Owls a 1-0 lead late in the game.
 
After a scoreless sixth inning from both teams, LeMoyne would add two runs taking the lead from SCSU. Southern's efforts to rally fell short in the bottom of the seventh inning. LeMoyne would hold on for the victory taking the game 2-1.