FAYETTEVILLE, NC - The Lynchburg College softball team defeated Ursinus College (PA) 2-0 Monday afternoon in the championship game of the NCAA Division III Regional, hosted by Methodist University. The Hornets will compete in their first NCAA World Series in program history, with a chance at the Division III Title.
LC pushed a run across in the bottom of the third. Audra Della Rosa (Rumford, RI/St. Mary's Academy Bay View) singled off pitcher's Lauren Davis' leg and stole second base to advance into scoring position. Elizabeth Perkins (Kents Store, VA/Fluvanna County) singled up the middle to plate Della Rosa and break the scoreless tie.
It remained a one-run game until junior Tara Campbell (Leesburg, VA/Loudoun County) drilled a line-drive home run to deep centerfield in the bottom of the sixth for insurance, and Hornet freshman right-hander Katie Bruce (Lanexa, VA/Lafayette) induced three straight groundouts in the top of the seventh to close out the game.
Bruce was dominant on the hill, allowing just four singles and no walks with two strikeouts for her 20th victory of the season. Dara Sandifer (Monroe, VA/Holy Cross) was 2-2, as Davis went the distance for Ursinus and allowed seven hits. The Bears (36-11) had won five straight-games after losing their opening round match-up on Thursday.
The Hornets (39-6) advance to the eight-team Division III World Series this weekend in Salem, VA. Lynchburg's first game will be Friday at 6:30 p.m. against Muskingum (OH).
Five Hornets were named to the All-Region team: Sandifer, Perkins, Bruce, Brittany Allsop (Milford, CT/Jonathan Law) and Lauren Duguay (Williamsburg, VA/Jamestown).