May 11, 2007
Box Score
Teaneck, NJ -- A two-run single from grad student Joy Gallagher (Hazleton, PA/Hazleton) capped a five-run rally in the bottom of the seventh by second-seeded Wagner to defeat fourth-seeded Quinnipiac, 8-7, in the third game of the Northeast Conference Softball Championship in Teaneck, NJ, on Friday afternoon.
Senior Christina Hopkins (Edison, NJ/Edison) started the rally by reaching on an error and advancing to second base. A fielder's choice put runners on the corners, before Hopkins scored on another fielder's choice to make it 7-4. A pair of wild pitches and a fielding error followed by a walk loaded the bases for sophomore Andrea Lazzari (Reno, NV/Wooster) who delivered a two-run double to right field, making it 7-6 with runners on second and third with one out. After a strikeout, Gallagher capped the rally with her second hit of the day.
Quinnipiac took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after senior Maria Browne (Park Ridge, NJ/Park Ridge) led off with a double and eventually came home on a sacrifice fly by freshman Krista Seeman (Irvine, CA/Woodbridge).
The Seahawks responded with two runs in the home half of the inning. Freshman Kate Eshelman (Reno, NV/McQueen) reached on an error and came around to score on a double by Lazzari to tie the game. Lazzari scored on an infield single by Gallagher two batters later to give Wagner a 2-1 lead.
The Bobcats exploded for four runs with two outs in the top of the second to take a 5-2 lead. Junior Kristin Sheriff (San Diego, CA/Patrick Henry) led off with a single before the next two batters were retired. After two straight singles loaded the bases, Seeman's two-run single up the middle plated two runs to give Quinnipiac a 3-2 lead. Another infield single loaded the bases for freshman Christine Bourdeau (Seymour, CT/Seymour), who delivered a two-run double to make it 5-2.
Quinnipiac tacked on a run in the fifth after senior Sammi Allendorfer (Glenside, PA/Abington) led off with a single and stole second, before advancing to third on a bunt. She came home on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Cary Simms (Millis, MA/Millis) to make it 6-2.
Wagner's offense was stymied by the pitching of Seeman and managed just one hit after the second inning, until Lazzari hit a solo homerun, her fourth of the season, for her fourth hit of the day making it 6-3 in the bottom of the sixth. The Seahawk first baseman went 4-4 with four RBI, tying a NEC tournament record for hits in a game shared with four other people, including Hopkins, who accomplished the feat in the 2005 Tournament. Quinnipiac got the run back in the top of the seventh on a solo shot by Allendorfer, but were unable to add to the lead before Wagner's rally.
Eshelman (13-6) was the winning pitcher for the Seahawks.
Wagner advances to face the loser of the Long Island-Monmouth game at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 12.
Game 1 R H E
#4 Quinnipiac 7 13 3
#2 Wagner 8 6 0
