Lakewood, N.J.- The Georgian Court University softball squad's magical run through the 2013 CACC Tournament made an abrupt halt Saturday afternoon as the Lions fell to #2 Caldwell College, 4-2, in the Championship round courtesy of a walk-off, three-run home run off the bat off tournament Most Valuable Player
Brielle Reighn (Fr.-Runnemeade, N.J.).
The championship marks the first for Caldwell (43-10) since the Cougars won it all back in 2008. The Lions end the campaign with a 31-27 mark.
GCU took an initial 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after a
Taylor McDonough sacrifice fly brought in 2B
Justine Mattia, who singled earlier in the inning. Caldwell countered in the home half of the second with a sac fly of its own, courtesy of SS
Megan Fryday (So.- San Marcos, Calif.).
The Lions retook the advantage in the top of the third as McDonough's single to center scored LF
Alyssa Paradiso, who led of the frame with a base hit to right.
The score would remain 2-1 until the fateful seventh when
3B Kristen Knorr (So.-Monroeville, N.J.) led off with a single through the middle.
CF Caitlin McCready (Fr.-Jupiter, Fla.) then advanced Knorr on a bunt hit just out of the reach of McDonough at first base. Both runners moved up a base on a passed ball, which set the stage for Reighn's championship-clinching blast.
Kourtney Wilson (Sr.-Islip, N.Y.) earned the win for the Cougars (7.0 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K). Kristina Morgan (16-9), who won three games on Friday and permitted just two runs in 21 innings pitched, took the defeat on Saturday for the Lions (6.0 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K).
Morgan, Mattia, SS
Briana Molino earned a spot on the All-Tournament team.