CHAMBERSBURG, PA (April 29, 2011) – The Penn State Berks softball team was edged out 2-1 by top seed and host Wilson College in the winner's bracket final of the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Championship on Friday afternoon.
The No. 3 Nittany Lions will now play an elimination game with second seed Penn State Harrisburg tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. Tomorrow's game will be a rematch of the opening round in which Berks won 9-3.
The Lions were limited to just three hits in the loss. Marissa Ruggiero tripled in the fourth inning and Brittany Hicks followed with a walk. With two outs, Hicks got in a rundown long enough for Ruggiero to score, cutting the Phoenix lead in half.
Shari Lynn Kluth and Alyssa Stahly each had singles, but Berks was unable to convert them into runs.
Devon Denker allowed two runs in three innings. She struck out two batters. Casey Hafer struck out three batters in three scoreless innings of relief. She allowed just two hits.
Brianna Smith gave the Phoenix a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the second and Maggie Sipps had an RBI in the third that proved to be the winning margin.
The winner of tomorrow mornings game between Berks and Harrisburg will advance to the championship game against Wilson at noon.
Â
