May 5, 2012
Benedictine Becomes Back-To-Back NAC Tourney Champs
Courtesy of Alverno College
MILWAUKEE -- Benedictine hit three home runs in the final game of the 2012 Northern Athletics Conference Softball tournament and cruised to a 10-0 victory over Dominican for its second-consecutive tournament championship and second-straight trip to the NCAA III Championship Tournament.
The top-seeded Eagles (33-9) needed an extra inning to defeat second-seeded Aurora (26-16) in today's opening game, 2-1. The Eagles trailed 1-0 after the Spartans' Lillie Stone hit a solo home run to center field in the top of the fifth inning, but tied the game in the bottom of the seventh to force the additional frame.
Center fielder Kelly Mieszala singled up the middle and sent the runner on second base home for the walk-off win in the bottom of the eighth.
The Eagles' right-hander Brittany Adcox went the distance for the victory, as she allowed just three hits, one walk and struck out nine. Natalie Zanella (16-11) picked up the tough complete-game loss in 7 1/3 innings pitched.
In the following game, an elimination game in the double-elimination tournament, sixth-seeded Dominican (24-21) jumped out to a 6-0 lead after four innings, as a Emily Mahoney three-run homer capped of the Stars' scoring in the top of the fourth.
The Spartans' lone score came on a home run by Caitlin Clay in the bottom of the seventh.
Jori Cicale (13-9) picked up the complete-game win with six Ks and scattered three hits, while the Spartans' Hope Webster picked up the loss after allowing four runs in three innings pitched.
The final game of the tournament was all Benedictine, as the Eagles' Kelly Mieszala, Kara Walsh and Sara Koch all homered in the bottom of the third inning to give the Eagles a 10-0 lead.
Adcox (24-3) again went the distance with six Ks, and allowed just a pair of hits, which game in the fourth inning. Mahoney (8-10) pitched just two innings and allowed four runs (two earned) in the loss for the Stars.
The Eagles received the NAC's automatic bid to the NCAA III Tournament for the second straight year.
