Softball Wins 2023 CSAC Championship for First Conference Title in Saint Elizabeth History

Softball Wins 2023 CSAC Championship for First Conference Title in Saint Elizabeth History

Story Re-Posted Courtesy of Saint Elizabeth University Athletics - Original Here

ALLENTOWN, PA - Saint Elizabeth University softball have won the first conference championship in school history after defeating Rosemont, 5-2 and 5-3, in the 2023 CSAC Tournament. Kaitlynne McCarthy was named Tournament MVP after a stellar performance on the mound and a clutch RBI against Wilson that sent the Eagles to the championship round for the first time in program history. 

Wilson Elimination game

The day started with an elimination game against #4 seed Wilson College. McCarthy got the call in the circle and delivered as she has done all season.

Wilson were only able to reach third base once, which came in the top of the 7th in a scoreless game. Phoenix DP Makenna Snodgrass hit a 1 out single up the middle. Snodgrass would move to second on a ground ball hit back to McCarthy on the next batter. A walk to Phoenix third baseman Madison Briggs, Snodgrass made her way to third on a passed ball. With runners on the corners and two outs, McCarthy got first baseman Kaesey Greene to ground out to shortstop Savannah VanWinkle keeping the shutout intact and bringing the Eagles to the plate looking for a run.

Isabella Hanos led off the bottom of the 7th with a line drive single to left off Phoenix starter Marina Monsalve, who matched McCarthy pitch for pitch all afternoon.  After a flyout, Hanos moved up to second on a groundout by Julia Stewart.  With two outs and a runner on second, up stepped McCarthy with a chance to get her team a win and a date in Championship Game 1.  After a couple of foul balls, the lefty swinging pitcher lined a 2-2 pitch into right-center field chasing Hanos home giving the Eagles a 1-0 victory.

Rosemont Championship Series

The format for the CSAC Championship Tournament is double elimination; which means that St. Elizabeth would have to beat #2 seed Rosemont twice to capture conference glory.  Rosemont had already defeated the Eagles in all three meetings this season, including the first game of this tournament on Friday.

Game 1:

McCarthy was called upon once again in the circle. This time her teammates would give her a lead to work with before throwing her first pitch. With one out, first year catcher Katerra Lutes singled to right center. Aimee Vega put runners on second and third with a double to right.  Hanos continued her torrid day at the plate with an RBI single to left.  On the first pitch to Isabell Edwards, Hanos stole second.  The throw got away from the Ravens shortstop as Vega scampered home giving St E. a lead they would never relinquish.

Kami DeGaetani took over pitching duties with one out in the second inning, and held Rosemont in check going into the fifth. 

In the top of the third senior right fielder Mercedes Rivera led off the inning with a single up the middle. Two outs later, Hanos again came through.  This time a long single to center scored Rivera and put the Eagles up 3-0.

The top of the fifth provided St. Elizabeth with another chance to pad the lead.  With two outs, Lutes reached on an infield single. Vega then followed with her second hit of the day, setting the stage for Hanos to come to the plate again. The first year left fielder came through with her fourth of five straight hits on the day with a run scoring double to right.  Edwards followed with an RBI hit of her own making the score 5-0.

In the bottom of the fifth, Rosemont mounted a rally and pushed across three unearned runs, but with the tying runs on second and third DeGaetani buckled down and got a ground ball back to her to slam the door on the Ravens last serious scoring threat.  Rosemont went down in order in the sixth and then with the help of a diving play by Stewart at second base, closed out the 5-3 win without incident.

Game 2:

This set the stage for a one game, winner take all title game.  Once again the Eagles jumped on top early.  Putting up a 3-spot in the top of the first.  Rivera singled to right field and moved up to second on a single by Lutes.  Vega stepped to the plate and lashed a run scoring double to left. 

One out later Edwards singled to center field to bring in two more runs.  In the bottom of the first DeGaetani again took the mound looking to keep the home team at bay and the St. E. defense came out as Lutes cut down a would be base stealer to end the Raven scoring threat.

In the top of the third, Edwards led off with an infield single.  Third year coach Korrissa Aguilar then went to her bench sending up senior Jessica O'Malley to pinch hit.  O'Malley would respond with a ringing RBI double down the LF line.  DeGaetani followed with a single through the right side, batting home O'Malley and increasing the 5-0 lead.

After Rosemont got a run back in the bottom of the third, the Ravens started the fourth with back to back singles, and McCarthy would relieve DeGaetani.  A ground out, fly out and strikeout would put out the fire. The Ravens would add another run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

In the seventh, three outs away from history, Rosemont would get their leadoff hitter aboard on an error and would move up to second on a wild pitch.

But, a called strike three, a groundout and a pop to first baseman Edwards sealed the 5-2 victory and gave the Eagles their first ever conference championship.

Over five games, McCarthy and DeGaetani combined to throw all 35 innings, only allowing 14 earned runs on 38 hits. They walked only 7 hitters and struck out 19.  For her efforts, McCarthy was named Tournament MVP.

NOTES:

  • The three wins on Sunday upped the Eagles record to 26-12.  The 26 wins are a new school record, eclipsing the previous high of 24 set in 2019.
  • Coach Aguilar secured the 50th win of her young coaching career in Game 2 against Rosemont.
  • In the three Saturday games, DeGaetani and McCarthy gave up 2 earned runs in 21 innings of work.

CUMULATIVE TOURNAMENT STATS:

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