![Emory Softball Falls in 13 Innings To Christopher Newport In NCAA Action](/sports/sball/2010-11/photos/2011_03_11_0348_res.jpg?max_width=450)
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A two-out walk-off grand slam by Jennifer Falin in the bottom of
the 13th inning gave Christopher Newport a 7-3 win over
No.2-ranked Emory in the second round of the Salisbury Regional at
the NCAA Division III Championships. The loss snapped a
14-game Emory win streak and leaves it record at 41-3-1 while the
Captains, who have won their opening two games at the regional,
stand 33-10 overall
In a game that featured 28 hits and numerous scoring opportunities
for both clubs (Emory left 12 runners on base while CNU stranded
14), Christopher Newport took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third
on a RBI single by Ashley Mani. Emory quickly bounced back
and would generate all of its runs when it crossed the plate three
times in the top of the fourth. Junior left fielder Jessica
Thomas led off the frame with a double and scored when the next
batter, junior catcher Jessica Boni followed with another
two-bagger. A single by Brittany Boeshore moved Boni to third
and, following a stolen base by Boeshore, senior Zara Louy
delivered a clutch pinch-hit single that scored two runs.
Both Boni and senior shortstop Nikki Perez collected three hits
with Emory registering 13 safeties for the contest.
CNU loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the fourth
before freshman Lena Brottman came on in relief of Jaclyn Jacobi
who relieved starter Bridget Holloway in the third. Brottman
worked her way of that jam, allowing just a sacrifice fly, which
cut Emory’s lead to 3-2. The Eagles had a chance to
build upon their lead in the seventh when they had runners at the
corners with two out but could not push the insurance run across
the plate. The Captains tied the contest in the bottom of the
inning when a sacrifice fly by Falin scored Kelley Foate.
The extra innings became a battle between Brottman and CNU starter
Krista Townsend with each hurler dodging scoring threats at various
times. Emory put the leadoff runner on in the eighth and
ninth but came up empty while Brottman, who allowed just one hit
from the eighth through tenth innings, had to work out of a dicey
situation in the 11th, when the Captains had the winning
run on third, and a runner on first with one out. The Eagles
put an end to that rally when shortstop Jen Haag gunned down Lauren
Stewart who was trying to score on a ground ball before a lineout
by Mani ended CNU’s bid to win the game.
In the top of the 12th, Emory loaded the bases with two
out but couldn’t score while CNU had a base runner on second
with one and two outs which proved fruitless. It appeared
that Emory might break through with the go-ahead tally in the top
of the 13th when Boeshore led off with a walk followed
by a bunt single by freshman Lauren Gorodetsky.
However, a fielder’s choice forced Boeshore at third
and a failed stolen base attempt and a subsequent pop out stymied
the rally. After a ground opened the CNU half of the
13th, a walk to Foate followed by a single by Kristina
McLaughlin put runners at first and second. After Mani
reached on a fielder’s choice, moving Foate to third and
terminating McLaughlin at second, a walk to Jessie Atkinson loaded
the bases, setting the stage for Falin’s homer.
Brottman took the loss in the circle, just her second in 18
decisions, tossing 9 2/3 innings of relief and allowing nine hits
while striking out two. CNU Sophomore Krista Townsend saw her
record go to 8-2 after hurling all 13 innings and surrendering 13
hits while striking out seven. Her 13-inning stint
established a school record for longest outing, bettering the
previous record of 11 innings.
With a loss in the double-elimination tourney, Emory will play
Rowan University in an elimination game on Saturday morning
starting at 10:00 a.m. Christopher Newport advances to the
winner’s bracket and will play at 2:00 p.m. against either
host Salisbury or Shenandoah.