GEORGIAN COURT SOFTBALL ONE WIN AWAY FROM REACHING DIVISION II WORLD SERIES
SYRACUSE, NY (May 15, 2009) - The #3-seeded Georgian Court University softball team now stands one victory away from a spot in the NCAA Division II World Series, as the Lions defeated top-ranked Le Moyne College, 4-1, in the first game of the best-of-three NCAA East Super Regionals, Friday afternoon in Syracuse, NY. Diana Sansevera (So.-Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney) improved to 27-8 on the campaign and 8-0 in the postseason as she allowed one run on four hits and a walk, while striking out seven, in the complete game effort. Courtney Cuevas (So.-Fords, NJ/Woodbridge) provided the big offensive blow for the Lions with a two-run home run in the third inning. The victory, GCU's eighth straight and 40th of the year (40-15), snapped Le Moyne's (43-11) 12-game winning streak.
After a scoreless first frame, Lions 1B Kelsey Cutler (Fr.-Gloucester City, NJ/Gloucester) led off the top of the second by getting hit by a pitch. RF Jess Comiskey (So.-Ewing/Ewing) followed with a walk. With runners at first and second, SS Sammie Jo Garofalo (So.-Burlington, NJ) laid down a suicide squeeze single, scoring Cutler and advancing Comiskey to third. After reaching safely, Garofalo immediately attempted to get caught in a rundown between first and second base. The play caught Le Moyne's defense off-guard as Comiskey immediately broke to the plate and slid in safely just in front of the throw as Garofalo safely coasted into second base.
No trickery was needed for GCU in the top of the third as senior leftfielder Mallory Kirchner (South Amboy, NJ/Cardinal McCarrick) led off the frame with a double to left-center. With one out, Cuevas launched her fifth homer of the year over the centerfield wall. The dinger chased the Daktronics East Region Player of the Year, Le Moyne pitcher Jennifer Farrelly (Sr.-Lathem, NY) (18-5), after just 2.1 innings of work (5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1BB, 1 HBP, 1K).
The Lions will look to punch their ticket to Salem, VA, when they take the field for Game Two Saturday morning at 11:00 AM. If necessary, Game Three will be played at 1:30 PM.