POTOMAC STATE ELIMINATES LADY HAWKS

Saturday, April 4 - Potomac State scored 3 runs in the top of the 8th inning to defeat CSM 10-7 in the semi-finals of the Region XX Softball Tournament.  CSM had rallied from a 3-0 deposit to tie the game and take a 7-5 lead, only to see the Catamounts rally to tie the game once again, and force extra innings. 

   Trailing 3-0, the Hawks got a run back in the bottom of the 4th to cut the margin to 3-1.  Andrea Brady tripled and scored on Jennifer Brown's single. 

   Potomac State came right back with two runs in the top of the 5th, to take a 5-1 lead.  With two out, Heather Laffey reached base on a throwing error, and scored on Sheena Zbosnik's double.  Cassie Schwinabart followed with a double of her own to knock in Zbosnik.

   For the second day in a row, the 5th inning proved to be the charm for the Hawks, as CSM rallied for 6 runs to take a 7-5 lead.  Aaron Waltersdorff lead off the inning with a double, moved to third on a past ball, and scored on Melissa Speake's single.  Megan Oursler reached on an error by the second baseman, putting runners on first and second with no outs.  After Amanda Boswell popped out, Andrea Brady hit a fly to left that was dropped by the left fielder, scoring Speake and putting runners on second and third.  Stacy Bean followed with an infield single plating Oursler, and Jennifer Brown singled to score Brady.  Amanda Kidwell doubled into left center to score two more runs before being thrown out attempting to stretch the double into a triple. 

   The Catamounts tied the game at 7-7 in the top of the 6th.  Haley Devey singled and scored on Staci Walton's triple.  Heather Laffey singled to score Walton.  The damage would have been worse, but Andrea Brady fielded a ground ball between first and second, and with the first baseman off the bag, Brady dove to tag first base and retire the batter just an instant before the hitter tagged the base. 

   Potomac State threatened  to take the lead in the top of the 7th.  A single, double, and an intentional walk loaded the bases with one out.  Erin Waltersdorff was able to pitch out of the jam however.  Waltersdorff got the next two hitters to fly to left to end the threat.  

   It looked like the Hawks might end the game in the bottom of the 7th, as they loaded the bases with no outs.  Amanda Boswell and Andrea Brady singled, and both advanced to second and third on a fielder's choice.  Stacy Bean was intentionally walked to load the bases.  However Catamount pitcher Staci Walton was able to retire the next three Hawks, on a pitcher to catcher force out on a ground ball, a strike out and a grounder to short to retire the side.

   Potomac State scored their three runs in the 8th on 3 hits and benefited from 2 Hawk errors.

   Potomac State advances to the championship round, where they will face Catonsville, 5-1 winners over Frederick in the other semi-final match-up.  The two teams will play a best of three series, with games starting at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM on Sunday, and a third game Monday at 3:00 PM if necessary.  All games will be at Stethem Park in Waldorf, Md.

   CSM finishes the season 30-7, ranked 4th in the country, and co- Maryland State Champions.