May 2, 2008 - courtesy Maryville University sports information
Maryville SOFTBALL Wins SLIAC Tournament Championship

ST. LOUIS-The Maryville University softball team won the 2008 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Tournament Championship with a 4-2 victory versus Webster University at ABC Park in St. Ann, Mo. The Saints improve to 27-15 overall with the win, while the Gorloks finish the season at 22-17.

The two teams shared the SLIAC Regular Season Championship, but Maryville earned the #1 seed in the tournament with a sweep over the Gorloks in regular season play. After defeating Webster 6-5 in extra innings in the tournament semifinals, Maryville started the championship game with a two-run first inning to gain some momentum.

Evelyn Drummond hit a one-out, triple to right field to start things off in the top of the first inning. Kristen Bray followed with a walk and then advanced to third on a single by Katie Brockmeyer, that also scored Drummond from third base. Bray later scored on a throwing error by the catcher, giving Maryville the early 2-0 lead.

Webster answered the Saints in the bottom of the first, with three consecutive singles to start the game. The Gorloks came away with two runs in the inning to tie the game, leaving each team back at square one. 

Maryville had a runner in scoring position in each the second and third innings, but Webster's defense was able to hold off the Saints. It wasn't until the top of the fifth inning that Maryville got on the board again. Molly Duffy reached on a fielding error by the shortstop to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Alana Weissmueller. Drummond then doubled down the left field line to score Duffy, and Bray followed with a triple to right center field that scored Drummond.

Erin Clark, making her 27^th appearance on the mound and her 22^nd start, retired the next nine batters with the help of her defense in the bottom of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to give Maryville the victory. Clark improved to 14-7 with the win and recorded seven strikeouts, while allowing five hits, two runs and no walks.

Gina Trapani went the distance on the mound for Webster and gave up five hits, two earned runs, one walk and struck out three batters. She dropped to 10-4 overall with the loss.

The Saints were led at the plate by Drummond, who hit 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Bray and Brockmeyer tallied one hit and one RBI a piece, while Laura Weissmueller finished 1-for-3 with one stolen base.

Webster's Dana Vahey finished 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Gorloks. Kelsey Washam added one hit and one RBI, while Maria Hibbard and Nancy LaRose had one hit each. Sam Dittmann also recorded a RBI, with one sacrifice fly.

Maryville's Clark earned All-Tournament Team honors and was named the Most Valuable Player. Also earning All-Tournament Team honors for the Saints were Laura Weissmueller, Brockmeyer and Drummond. Webster's Sperry, Washam and Hibbard were all named All-Tournament Team, along with Blackburn College's Aubrey Watson and Katie Denny, and Greenville College's Talitha Engelhardt.

The tournament championship is only the second for Maryville in 13 total appearances in the conference tournament. The last time Maryville won the tournament championship was in 1994. The Saints receive an automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament with the victory and now await the announcement of the tournament bracket this Monday, May 5.