ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - Abby Augdahl’s run-scoring single in the bottom of the sixth inning snapped a scoreless tie Thursday and gave St. Cloud (Minn.) State University a 1-0 victory over Northern Kentucky University in the opening round of the NCAA Division II national finals.
St. Cloud State (41-13) capitalized on two errors by NKU shortstop Rachele Vogelpohl and an infield hit by Cally Stewart in the sixth inning to load the bases with no outs. Angie Berg, however, lined out to Vogelpohl, who flipped to third baseman Sara Becker to double up Abby Velta.
That brought up Augdahl, who lined a single into center field. NKU center fielder Stephanie Leimbach charged the ball and came up throwing, but Stewart slid in and touched home plate just before catcher Megan Owens applied the tag.
“It was probably the biggest hit of my life,” Augdahl said. “That was huge for us.”
St. Cloud State pitcher Nicole Webb retired NKU in order in the top of the seventh to seal the victory. Webb struck out Becky Napier to end the game and finished with a two-hit shutout as the Huskies advanced to the winner’s bracket.
“Everything was working well for me. If it wasn’t a strike, it was moving and I was getting them to swing at it,” said Webb, who struck out eight and improved to 29-6. “I felt like I was really on today.”
Webb outdueled NKU starter Krystal Lewallen, who did not allow a hit until a fourth-inning single by Berg. Lewallen, a first team NCAA Division II All-American, scattered three hits Thursday and surrendered the unearned run in the sixth inning.
In her last 27 innings on the mound, Lewallen has allowed just two unearned runs. She is now 31-4 this season.
“(Today) wasn’t my best game,” Lewallen said. “We just have to play one extra game (in the loser’s bracket), and we’re a tougher team with the more games we have to play.”
NKU had an opportunity to score in the third inning when Ricki Rothbauer singled to center with Vogelpohl on second base. Vogelpohl, however, was thrown out at the plate and the game remained scoreless.
“We both had plays at the plate and, unfortunately, they made theirs and we didn’t make ours,” NKU head coach Kathy Bown said.
NKU (54-6) will play Caldwell (N.J.) College - which dropped a 1-0 decision to Western New Mexico University on Thursday - in the loser’s bracket at 11 a.m. Friday. The winner of that game will advance to another elimination contest in the loser’s bracket at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the eight-team field.
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Krystal Lewallen |