UT Tyler Eliminates Linfield in Nine Inning Epic
May 9, 2008

TYLER, Texas – The UT Tyler softball team (42-8) eliminated the defending NCAA Division III National Champion Linfield College (38-6), 6-4 in nine innings, on Friday night in the final game of Day 2 in the Tyler Regional of the 2008 Division III Softball Championships.

The Patriots jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning on a single by designated player ‘Roo Richardson that scored left fielder Kristen Akin-Henton.

In the top of the fourth Linfield’s Kayla Hubrich drove a single up the middle to score Amanda Attleberger to even the score at one.

In the top of the fifth, the Patriots scored the go-ahead run on a homer down the left field line from Lindsey Peters.

In the bottom of the sixth, Linfield tied the game up again with a single from Rochelle Friend that scored pinch runner McKensie Booth.

UT Tyler was unable to score any runs in the top of the seventh, which left them to play defense in order to force extra innings.

In bottom of the seventh, the first two Linfield batters walked and would then advance a base each on a passed ball to put two Wildcats in scoring position. The Patriots would walk another Linfield batter to load the bases with one out. One foul out and one ground out later UT Tyler would be out of the inning and headed into the eighth.

In the top of the eighth, ‘Roo Richardson homered to left centerfield to put UT Tyler on top 3-2.

In bottom of the inning, the defending champs showed why they won it all last year in Salem. Linfield tied the game once again with double from shortstop Meredith Brunette that pounded the right center field wall to knot the game at three.

In the top of the ninth, UT Tyler led off with a single from shortstop Amanda Busby. After a sacrifice bunt from Carly Collins, Busby scored off a double from first baseman Kate Bell to give the Patriots a 4-3 lead. After two straight walks, the Patriots extended their lead to 5-3 when Lindsey Peters was hit by a pitch to walk in a run. In the next at bat, pinch runner Kate Lightfield scored off of a single from Julie Smith to give UT Tyler a 6-3 lead they would take into the bottom of the ninth.

In the bottom of the ninth, Linfield loaded up the bases off of singles from Amanda Attleberger and Alex Hartmann and a pitch that hit Emily Keagbine. In the next at bat, Rochelle Friend reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Attleberger to pull Linfield within two, despite Keagbine being thrown out on the play for the first out of the inning. In the next plate appearance, Amanda Rice reached on an error by UT Tyler’s Sara DeStefano to load up the bases for Linfield once again. Kayla Hubrich reached on a fielder’s choice in the next play, only to have Hartmann thrown out at home for out number two. In the next at bat, Jenny Marshall reached on yet another fielder’s choice, but UT Tyler threw Hubrich out at second to end the game and eliminate the defending champs.

In total UT Tyler threw four pitchers with the final pitcher, Lauren Scruggs getting the win, while Linfield threw three pitchers with Brittany Miller getting the loss.

The most telling stats of the game were the 17 runners Linfield left on base and the fact that they out hit UT Tyler 14 to 8, but only scored four runs.

UT Tyler now continues in the elimination bracket where they will meet they will get a rematch with the team that put them there, La Verne, on Saturday at 12 p.m.

Athletics Home Page