BOX SCORE | PHOTOS | VIDEO
Reading, Pa. (May 7, 2011) - Freshman pitcher Jessica Wood took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and held top-seeded Lebanon Valley College (29-9) to one run on three hits in a 2-1 win for #3 Arcadia University (24-11) Saturday afternoon in the losers bracket final of the Commonwealth Conference Softball Championships at Angelica Park.
The Knights got all the offense they needed in the second when Ashley McCarthy's pop up to shallow left popped out of the glove off LVC shortstop Meghan Donoghue. The Knights loaded the bases with two walks and an LVC error then McCarthy fisted a ball to left. Donoghue tracked back on the ball and stretched to grab the ball, but her momentum carried her to the ground and knocked the ball out allowing two runs to score.
The Knights--who got a no-hitter from Kelsey Roberts to advance to the losers bracket final--retired the first 12 batters in order then Wood walked designated player Katie Freeman to open the fifth. The Dutchmen sacrificed the pinch runner to second base then Steffani Secola ripped a clean single to center to advance the runner to third. Marisa Krause followed with a sacrifice fly to right to cut Arcadia's lead to 2-1, and Virginia Buechel made a great play on a bunt charging from third to end the inning with the tying run at third.
Arcadia put two on with one out in the seventh and LVC went to conference pitcher of the year Laura Snyder in relief to get a strikeout and a pop out to end the inning.
Allison Hartman singled to center with one out in the bottom of the seventh and Arcadia nearly ended the game on a double play, but Secole beat out the relay on a bang-bang play at first. Wood then finished it herself getting her sixth strikeout of the game.
Wood gave up one run on three hits with one walk. LVC starter Val Malizzia took the loss giving up two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts over six and a third innings.
Arcadia turns around for its third game of the day against #2 Messiah College in the championship round starting at 1:30 p.m.
#3 Arcadia 2, #1 Lebanon Valley 1
