No. 25 Softball Tops Merrimack 1-0 For Regional Championship
Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (May 21, 2011) – Senior pitcher Christina Berardi (Raynham, Mass.) fired a complete-game one hitter and junior Kendall Bright (Manlius, N.Y.) hit a solo shot in the second inning, as the duo led the second-seeded and 25th-ranked C.W. Post softball team its third regional title in school history with a 1-0 win over eighth-seeded Merrimack.
C.W. Post (41-14) wins its third regional title after advancing to the College World Series in 2007 and 2008. The Pioneers will travel to Salem, Virginia for the May 26-30, College World Series. The Pioneers open the double-elimination tournament on Thursday at 12 p.m. against the winner of today's UC-San Diego and CSU-Bernadino out of the West Region.
The Pioneers, the visiting team in the contest, needed only Bright's home run in the second, as the second baseman's bomb went opposite field and cleared the right field fence.
Merrimack centerfielder Monique Gosselin made an outstanding defensive play in the third as freshman shortstop Britney Agostini (Dover, Del.) hit a long shot to dead center that forced Gosselin to make an over-the-shoulder catch while running into the fence.
C.W. Post had another chance in the fourth as Nicole Hagenah (Commack, N .Y.) hit a two-out double, but was stranded as Merrimack pitcher Kelli Jo Deardorff induced a pop-up to end the inning.
In the sixth, the Pioneers would threaten again as sophomore first baseman Kaci Hopkins (New Egypt, N.J.) roped a one-out double. The next batter, Kerry Fisher (Barto, Pa.) lined a shot to center, but Gosselin again made a great defensive play, sliding to her knees and catching the sinking liner, then throwing to second to double up Hopkins.
But in the end, it would be all Berardi as the senior made one run all the Pioneers would need. Improving to 24-6 on the season, she struck out five and walked only two in the dominant effort.
Merrimack's lone hit came from catcher Kara Melillo, as Deardorff allowed four hits and struck out four on the mound. The Warriors end their season at 31-23.