Wildcats Finish Weekend With Win Over Northeastern State
By: Eric Boynton
Updated: March 3, 2013
WICHITA
FALLS - Less than 18 hours after suffering two hearbreaking one-run losses, the
ACU softball team returned the favor to Northeastern State in the final game of
the Courtyard by Marriott Classic at Mustang Field.
ACU
scored one run in the top of the seventh inning Sunday morning to grab a 2-1 win
over the Riverhawks. The Wildcats on Saturday lost to both Emporia State (6-5)
and St. Mary's (3-2) in eight innings.
Sunday,
however, it was the Wildcats who struck late to walk off a one-run winner. Each
team scored once in the first inning, and from there it was a pitcher's duel
between ACU's Shelby Hall and NSU's Kayce Wooldridge.
Hall
went seven innings, giving up just three hits and not walking a batter to pick
up the win and improve to 5-1 on the year. Wooldridge gave up seven hits and
one walk, but both of the runs she allowed were unearned.
In the
top of the seventh inning of a 1-1 game, Anna Jones and Ashley Nolan each
singled with one out to put runners at first and third. After Keanna Winkfield
reached on an infield hit to load the bases, Sara Vaughn came to the plate with
a chance to give the Wildcat the lead.
Vaughn
hit a shot to the third baseman Lisa Ripperger, who threw home to get Jones for
the second out. However, when the catcher, Navada Campos, threw to first to try
and get Vaughn, she overthrew the first baseman, allowing Nolan to score the
go-ahead run.
In the
bottom half of the seventh, Hall worked around a leadoff single to retire the
side without allowing a run.
