NCAA DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP
JAMES I. MOYER SPORTS COMPLEX, SALEM, VA.
SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE (All times EDT)
GAME 5 - 11 a.m. - Western New England 0 vs. Cortland 2
GAME 6 - Muskingum 4 vs. Wartburg 5
GAME 7 - Central vs. Salisbury
GAME 8 - Illinois Wesleyan vs. Emory
SUNDAY'S SCHEDULE (All times EDT)
GAME 9 - Noon - Wartburg vs. Loser Game 7
GAME 10 - 2:30 p.m. - Loser Game 8 vs. Cortland
GAME 11 - 5 p.m. - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8
GAME 12 - 7:30 p.m. - Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 9
Game 6
Muskingum (42-4) 040 000 0 -- 4-11-3
Wartburg (37-9) 201 010 1 -- 5-8-2
Erica Hoyt, Morgan Martin (5) (Muskingum) and
Kelly Watkins, Stephanie Rasmussen (2) (Wartburg)
WP - Rasmussen (22-6)
LP - Martin (15-2)The NCAA Division III Softball Committee decided at 12:45 p.m. EDT to delay
game six for at least one hour due to rain. The committee will meet again at
1:45 p.m. EDT to decide the condition of the field and the weather. Following
game five, the rain picked up from a steady drizzle to a very hard rain,
though not a downpour, and leaving the infield with many, many deep puddles.
1:50 p.m. EDT - The NCAA Division III Softball Committee has decided to
delay game six again until at least 3 p.m. EDT when it will make another
decision about whether or not to continue play today. The steady, hard rain
continues to fall and the water on the infield continues to collect. The
National Weather Service is predicting a break in the rain this afternoon.
3 p.m. EDT - The rain slowed and then stopped about ten minutes prior to the
NCAA Division III Softball Committee's scheduled decision on whether or not
to resume play. The committee decided that, with a predicted two to four hour
break in the weather, the second game of the day would begin at 4:15 p.m. The
grounds crew at James I. Moyer Sports Complex is busily spreading TURFACE on
the entire infield to rid it of the puddles that have accumulated in the last
several hours. 4:15 p.m. EDT - Wartburg and Muskingum decided to keep the
fans happy following a nearly three hour rain delay today. Both teams scored
early with the score at 4-2 by the middle of the second. Wartburg scored two
runs in the first on a Heather Winter round tripper to left field. But the
Muskies would answer almost immediately in the top of the second, scoring
four runs on hits by Shauna Jellison, Jeanna Rayman, Jackie Props, Erin
Zupko (who also stole second), Erin Calabrese, and a double by Elaine
Haubner that left the center field fence on the ground for the third time
during the tournament. Wartburg cut the lead to just one after Winter walked
and Kathy Voss singled to shallow center field. Emily Mangin hit a slow
roller down the first base line that scored one after a bad toss to first.
Muskingum looked as if it may be able to pad its lead in the fifth when
Mandy Carnes tripled to centerfield. The Muskies kept Carnes at third,
though, as Blubaugh, Jellison and Rayman were unable to bring her home.
Wartburg tied it up in the fifth after a single by Jenny Flora, a sacrifice
bunt from Shannon Lillibridge and a single from Winter. The Knights had
several opportunities to capitalize on loaded bases, but stranded three in
the bottom of the fifth leaving the score tied at four. In what looked like a
game that could easily go in to extra innings, Muskingum intentionally walked
two in the bottom of the seventh that loaded the bases. Pinch hitter Debra
Schindler had an amazing at bat, staying alive for several minutes, and
finally singling to first after the first baseman dove for and bobbled the
ball that appeared to have hit the runner. The winning run scored and
Schindler was safe at first. Wartburg will play again Sunday at noon against
Central or Salisbury.MUSKINGUM HEAD COACH DONNA NEWBERRY ON THE TEAM'S LOSS: "I felt we played
harder than we did yesterday. It's tough to beat a good team. We missed a lot
of opportunities offensively. It's definitely frustrating. We had more than
one inning with a runner at third and no outs."SENIOR FIRST BASEMAN MANDY CARNES ON HER STAND UP TRIPLE: "I was just trying
to start something."ON ENDING HER COLLEGE CAREER ON THIS NOTE: "It's hard to go out like this
especially when the ball comes to you the last play and you just didn't get
to it."WARTBURG HEAD COACH RICK WILLIS ON THE GAME: "I thought it was a tremendous
game. It was a battle all the way and it could have gone either way. I'm
proud of the way we competed."PINCH HITTER DEBRA SCHINDLER ON THE GAME-WINNING SINGLE: "I feel great. I
didn't want to let the team down, and I knew I could help out if I could
just get a run scored."