Marissa Ruggiero batting
Gene Walsh
7
SUNYIT SITW2013 22-12
8
Winner Penn State Berks PSBW2013 34-4
SUNYIT SITW2013
22-12
7
Final
8
Penn State Berks PSBW2013
34-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
SUNYIT SITW2013 1 0 0 4 0 1 1 7 8 2
Penn State Berks PSBW2013 1 0 0 0 3 1 3 8 12 5

W: Hafer, Casey (15-2) L: Erica Hovey (0-0)

Game Recap: Softball |

Ruggiero's walk off single caps seventh inning comeback

READING, PA (May 4, 2013) - Marissa Ruggiero singled through the right side of the infield to drive in Colleen Hoge in the Nittany Lions 8-7 comeback win over SUNY Institute of Technology in game 3 of the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Championship at Hintz Athletic Field on Saturday afternoon. (Boxscore)

Ruggiero had little time to celebrate that accomplishment, as she and teammate Devon Denker were rushed to the other side of campus so that they could walk at graduation. The four-year senior standout then returned to Hintz Athletic Field in between games 4 and 5 of the tournament to receive her All-NEAC South Division First Team plaque.

Ruggiero, who is the all-time leader in nearly every offensive category at Berks, is making the most of the Nittany Lions magical run in her final days with the Nittany Lions. She finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Casey Hafer pitched strongly, but five Berks errors led to six unearned runs for the Wildcats (22-12). Hafer tossed a complete-game effort and struck out 11 batters.

The wheels fell off for Berks in the fourth inning when three errors prolonged the inning and led to four runs, giving SUNYIT a 5-1 lead. The Nittany Lions got back into the game by taking advantage of a Wildcats error that led to three runs. With bases loaded and two outs, Missy Lamm's spinning pop up was dropped by the first baseman which scored one run and kept the inning alive. Hafer helped her own cause with a single up the middle that scored two runs to cut the deficit to 7-4.

Hafer, who finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored, led off the bottom of the seventh with a single up the middle. Lexi Lobb singled and Marisa Gonzales was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Erin Hovey recorded a strike out and was one out away from knocking off top seeded Berks. But Hoge ripped a frozen rope down the left field line that scored two runs to set up Ruggiero's heroics. With the game knotted at 7-all, Ruggiero hit an outside pitch through the right side to easily score Hafer with the winning tally.

In four plate appearance, JESS EPLER was issued four walks and only had one strike recorded against her. It was the third time this season that Epler drew four free passes.

The Nittany Lion will face the North Division No. 1 seed, Keuka College, at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning at Hintz Athletic Field. The winner will advance to the championship game at 4 p.m. and will need to be beaten twice for the title. The losing team will face Wilson College at 2 p.m. in an elimination game.
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