SB tops Chapman in NCAA Tournament

05/08/08

Tyler, TX - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team used Kelsey Greeson's dominating pitching performance and a three-run homer from Megan Bohne in the first inning to post a 3-1 victory over Chapman University in the first round of the NCAA Division III National Championships Regional Tournament Thursday in Tyler. The Cru improves to 33-9 with the first NCAA postseason victory in the history of UMHB softball. Chapman falls to 27-10 on the year with the loss.

UMHB took a 3-0 lead when Bohne blasted her fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the first inning. It would stay that way until Chapman scored an unearned run on an error and a double in the top of the fourth. The Panthers threatened again, but Cru rightfielder Sara Roman gunned down Chapman base-runner Melanie Villarroel at home plate to end the top of the sixth inning. Greeson then set Chapman down in order in the top of the seventh inning to clinch the victory.

"It was the kind of pitch I like and I was happy to see it," Bohne said. "It felt good to hit a home run because I had not done that in a while and it really felt good to be able to do it here."

Greeson pitched a complete-game, five-hitter to improve her record to 17-2. Greeson struck out three and walked two while giving up just the one unearned run. Greeson also set a new UMHB single-season record for pitching victories, breaking the mark of 16 she held with current Cru head coach Kasey Blomquist. Charlsie Cope had two of UMHB's four hits in the win. Roman was 1-1 with two walks and the outfield assist for UMHB. Amanda Campbell had two of Chapman's five hits and drove in the Panthers only run of the game. Jennifer Winford scattered four hits, struck out one and walked three to drop to 15-6 for Chapman.

"It is really amazing to get here and get the first NCAA postseason win in school history," Cru Head Coach Kasey Blomquist said. "We just kept everything the same this week with warm-ups and everything and that really seemed to help us relax!"

The Cru now advances to a winner's bracket game tomorrow at 2:00 PM against the University of La Verne. La Verne advanced with a 3-1 victory over U.T.-Tyler on Thursday. Chapman falls into the loser's bracket and will face either Linfield College or Louisiana College in an elimination game tomorrow at 12:00 PM. You can listen to the UMHB game by clicking on www.umhb.edu/athletics and clicking on the links for Athletics: Live!!!