Lady Vikings Drop First Game in Softball Regionals

May 9, 2002

BLOOMSBURG-The top two seeds advanced in the first round of the NCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic Regional Softball Championships Thursday.

In game one of the day the California (PA) Vulcans, the number two seed, defeated Indiana (PA) 10-0, in six innings. Pitcher Amber Riegel was the hitting star for the Vulcans going 3-3 with two home runs with two RBI. Riegel homered in the third and fourth inning to help California jump out to a 4-0 lead. The big inning for the Vulcans was the sixth when they scored six times to end the game on the mercy rule. Abby McMinn and Danielle Tedesco had RBI singles, while Julie Wallace had a fielder's choice RBI. The big blow in the inning, though, was a game-ending three-run homer off the bat of Kristin Heslop to left center field.

Riegel went the distance allowing just four hits and striking out three. California is now 33-5 for the year.

In game two, Bloomsburg, the top seed, defeated Elizabeth City State, 12-1, in five innings. The Huskies led 1-0 before scoring seven times in the third on just four hits. Bloomsburg was able to take advantage of two errors by the Vikings along with three walks and two wild pitchers to break open the close game. Big hits in the inning for Bloomsburg came from Christi McHale, who had a two-run single and Melanie Anderson who had an RBI single.

Bloomsburg put the game away in the fourth scoring four times. Becca Kehler hit a two-run homer in the inning with Laurel Koster walking with the bases loaded to score another run and a fourth run coming in on a wild pitch. The Huskies improved to 39-6 with the win.

Game three of the day was suspended due to rain with Shippensburg leading Lock Haven 3-2 in the top of the fifth inning. That game will be completed starting at 9 a.m. Friday morning. Following that game will be Indiana (PA) and Elizabeth City State in the first elimination game of the tournament. The remainder of the schedule will then follow in two-hour increments the rest of the day.