RELEASE DATE: 5/11/03

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES DROP 1-0 HEARTBREAKER TO GEORGIAN COURT IN ECAC TITLE GAME – ALISON TAGLIAFERRI THROWS ONE-HITTER IN LOSS

MANSFIELD – Georgian Court scored an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat Mansfield University 1-0 in the title game of the ECAC Division II Softball Championship at Helen Lutes Field Sunday afternoon.

Georgian Court’s Sherry Keech, who threw two shutouts, was named Tournament MVP.

Alison Tagliaferri (Linden/Jersey Shore) pitched on outstanding game for the Mountaineers, giving up just one hit and striking out four. Sherry Keech, who was named the Tournament MVP, scattered six hits and struckout three for the win.

Georgian Court scored the only run of the game when with one out, Lisa Hollis walked and moved to second on a sacrifice. With tow outs, Toni Williams sharply hit ball went off the heal of the fielders glove and Hollis scored on the error.

Mansfield stranded seven runners in the game and had the bases loaded in the first inning. In the top of the fourth, Heather Long tried to score from second baseball on a single by Shannon McDonnell, but was out at the plate on a close play.

The Mountaineers mounted a scoring threat in the top of the seventh with runners on first and second with one out, but left a runner stranded at third.

Shannon McDonnell went two-for-three for the Mountaineers.

Mansfield advanced to the championship game with a 1-0 victory over Dowling College in the first game of the day. Jes Ricker went two-for-three and drove in the only run of the game with a single in the fifth inning.

Freshman Kristen Dean (Roaring Branch) threw a three-hit shutout with five strikeouts. For the tournament, Dean was 2-0 with two shutouts.

Mansfield has now won or finished runner-up in all seven ECAC Division II Softball Tournaments they have participated.

The Mountaineers end their season with a 20-18 record.

ECAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Mansfield University                   000            000            0            0-6-1

Georgian Court College            000            000            1            1-1-1

Mansfield (20-18): Alison Tagliaferri (L, 5-7) and Sytive Seitz

Georgian Court (33-11): Sherry Keech (w) and Lisa Hollis

2b – Anna Leighty

ECAC Play In Game

Dowling College                       000            000            0            0-3-0

Mansfield University                   000            010            x            1-4-0

Dowling College (25-26): Crystal Freyer (L, 11-8) and Kristine Macaluso

Mansfield University (20-17): Kristen Dean (W, 8-5) and Nancy Quinn

RBI – Jes Ricker