DENVER – The No. 18-ranked Saint Anselm College softball team was downed by No. 12-ranked West Texas A&M University on Friday at the NCAA Division II National Championship. A seven-run inning by the Lady Buffs sent the Hawks to a 9-3 defeat at the Assembly Athletic Complex.
The Hawks fall to 33-6 overall on the year and remain alive in the double-elimination tournament. Saint Anselm will return to action on Saturday, May 29, taking on an opponent to be determined at 11 a.m. MDT (1 p.m. EST). A defeat in that contest will end the Hawks season while a victory will send Saint Anselm to a contest later in the day against Biola at 4 p.m. MDT (6 p.m. EST).
Saint Anselm led by a 2-0 margin heading into the top of the third inning, but West Texas A&M (40-11) produced seven runs off of six hits to capture a commanding 7-2 advantage that grew to a 9-3 lead at game's end. The Hawks were forced to use three pitchers on Friday as the Lady Buffs, owners of one of the nation's top offenses, rapped 11 hits while drawing four walks and two hit-by-pitches.
A lead-off walk by senior Bre Klaiber (Ironton, Ohio) put the wheels in motion for Saint Anselm. She was quickly plated by sophomore Kylie Fitzpatrick (Danville, N.H.), who tucked an RBI double inside the third base bag and down the left field line. She was later driven in by senior Kat Stackrow (Wynantskill, N.Y.) and her single through the left side, creating an early advantage for the Hawks.
The seven-run top of the third inning for West Texas A&M began with a disputed hit-by-pitch that was initially ruled a foul ball by the home plate umpire. After the call was overturned, a passed ball moved the baserunner up to second before a single, hit-by-pitch, and another single produced the first run of the inning for the Lady Buffs.
The offense continued from there as a sacrifice fly tied the game at two. Three more singles for the Lady Buffs produced additional runs and forced a pitching change by Saint Anselm. With West Texas A&M leading by a 4-2 margin, the big blow to Saint Anselm came with a three-run, bases-clearing double by the number nine hitter, Julie Guzman. The Hawks ended the inning shortly thereafter, staring at a 7-2 deficit.
West Texas A&M tacked on two more runs in the top of the sixth as a lead-off walk came back to hurt the Hawks. An RBI double by the nation's leading hitter, Ruby Salzman, drove in a run before a miscue by the Hawks in the field allowed another run to score, creating a 9-2 score.
Saint Anselm led off the next half inning with a long home run by Stackrow, cutting into the deficit and bringing the score to 9-3. From there, the Hawks were held hitless as the final six Saint Anselm hitters were retired in order.
Hawks starter Morgan Perry (Bethany, Conn.) gave up six earned runs in just two-and-a-third innings, falling to 20-2 on the year. Sophomore McKenna Smith (Old Town, Maine) came on in relief, allowing six hits and two earned runs before giving way to senior Courtney Fisher (Taunton, Mass.). Making her first appearance for Saint Anselm since May 1 against Stonehill, Fisher pitched a scoreless one-and-two-third innings.
The pitching tandem of Kyra Lair and Emilee Wilson combined to pitch seven innings for West Texas A&M, giving up six hits and three earned runs. Four student-athletes for the Lady Buffs had two hits apiece.
Stackrow and senior Erin Thompson (Newton, N.H.) led the Hawks with two hits. Senior Shannon Colson (Rochester, N.H.) became the all-time leader in program history with her 62nd career walk, drawing the free pass in the fifth inning.
