SALEM, Va. – Five LIU Post miscues led directly to five unearned runs for West Texas A&M as the Lady Buffs defeated the Pioneers in both teams’ opener at the NCAA Division II Softball Championship in Salem, Va., by an 8-1 score.
In all, six different WT A&M hitters registered a base knock, led by first baseman Allie Cranfill (1-for-2, double, four RBIs), left fielder Kaisha Dacosin (1-for-2, double, RBI) and NFCA All-American third baseman Jessica Sipe (1-for-3, RBI). Designated player Paige Swantek led LIU Post’s seven-hit attack by going 2-for-3, while center fielder Alexis Gonzalez went 1-for-4 with a double.
NFCA All-American Rita Hokianga improved to 26-3 by permitting one earned run on seven hits with six strikeouts during a complete-game effort. Salcido dropped to 6-2 for the Pioneers, allowing a pair of earned runs on four hits over 3.2 innings while issuing six walks and striking out three.
“Well we knew coming in we were going to face pretty good pitching as LIU Post has a couple of really good arms,” West Texas A&M head coach Kevin Blaskowski said. “I thought both kids threw with really good velocity. They had a few control issues early. We’re pretty disciplined at the plate, so we were able to draw a number of walks, force them into some long counts and long at-bats, and we were able to create some runs early with those two runs in the first inning.
“I’m just really proud of how we created offense today. A lot of people talk about how many home runs we have, but to come out and create runs with the short game and stealing bases, that was a big credit to the offense today. Rita just did a great job in the circle, keeping them off balance. That line-up is very talented, so holding them to one run, it was a great day in the circle for her.
The powerful West Texas A&M offense wasted no time getting things started against Salcido in the bottom of the first, earning the game’s initial base runner as center fielder Tyler Wilkinson drew a one-out walk. She quickly took off for second while the throw on the steal attempt from LIU All-American Aly Dzierzynski traveled into center field for an error. Another miscue, while attempting to corral the errant toss by Gonzalez, allowed Wilkinson to race all the way around to score and make it 1-0 Lady Buffs. Another free pass, this one drawn by right fielder Renee Erwin, was quickly cashed in on a double to right center by Dacosin as the advantage expanded to 2-0.
Bidding to provide an immediate answer against Hokianga during the top of the second, LIU Post shortstop Nicole Hagenah managed a leadoff walk. She couldn’t advance, however, as a strikeout by Dzierzynski and a double play off the bat of Swantek to second ended the half inning with no damage.
The Lady Buff attack got going again in the bottom of the third as an LIU Post fielding error at short and a single through the right side by Sipe placed a pair aboard with just one retired. Salcido and her defense combined to escape the jam, however, as the hurler K’ed Cranfill looking and Pioneer first baseman Kayla McCoy speared a liner that would likely have plated a run to leave the duo stranded.
Hokianga finally allowed a hit in the top of the fourth as Gonzalez laced a two-out double to left center. LIU Post clean-up hitter Hagenah stepped to the plate and lifted a short pop to shallow right. WT A&M’s Erwin charged quickly to make a terrific catch and end the frame.
The fourth Pioneer error of the match-up opened the door for West Texas A&M to add to its advantage in the bottom of the fourth. With designated player Lacey Taylor at first following an inning-opening miscue and two outs, a stolen base, another throwing error, two walks and a hit-by-pitch forced home the Lady Buffs’ fourth tally. With the bags still packed, Cranfill quickly unloaded them on a double to the wall in right, plating three to make it 7-0.
LIU Post stranded two more during the top of the fifth as a single from Swantek and a McCoy walk went for naught after third baseman Maria Palmeri popped up to short and right fielder Samantha Miller fouled out behind first.
A leadoff line drive single back to the circle that ricocheted off Hokianga from left fielder Catherine Havens and a wild pitch put a Pioneer base runner in scoring position. A base knock from second baseman Angela Carmine to left moved Havens within 60 feet of pay dirt as LIU Post suddenly found itself in the midst of a full-blown offensive opportunity. Two quick outs threatened to derail the rally, but Dzierzynski hit a roller under the pitcher’s glove and up the middle for an RBI, breaking up the shutout bid at 7-1. Swantek followed immediately with a base hit back through the box, loading the bags for McCoy. She hit a ball off the end of the bat that was corralled on a strong charge by Sipe at third as LIU Post missed a big opportunity by leaving the bases juiced.
The Lady Buff offense added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth as an Erwin single, a walk, a groundout and a sac bunt plated WT A&M’s eighth tally of the match-up.
Down to one final chance, LIU Post tried to get something going as Miller singled on the infield and Havens reached on a fielding error. Hokianga shut the door, however, inducing a fly ball to center from Carmine to complete the 8-1 victory.
