Saints Blank Molloy 4-0 to Open DII World Series
ST. JOSEPH, MO
– Top-ranked North Georgia began their quest for a National
Championship on Thursday afternoon, using timely hitting and
stellar defense to top Molloy College 4-0 in the opening game of
the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championships at Heritage
Park.
North Georgia’s unbeaten run continues, as the team is now
51-0 and advance to Friday’s round of the NCAA Division II
National Championships at 4:00 p.m. CST against Valdosta State
University. The Saints are now 3-2 all-time in the Division II
World Series, and 2-0 in opening-round contests.
Molloy, making their first appearance in the National
Championships, fall to 43-20 on the year and will make their way to
the loser’s bracket and Saturday’s consolation round of
the tournament.
Molloy threatened in the opening inning as the leadoff hitter
walked, and Jeana Frey followed with a bunt single to put a pair on
with no outs. Following a force play at third for the first out of
the game, a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third with
just one out.
North Georgia then put together a dazzling defensive play as a
grounder to the right side was stabbed by Laura Voyles, and after
throwing to first for the out, Katherine fired a strike to third,
forcing a rundown between third and home and Kasey Knight finally
applied the tag to end the inning and the Lions’ first-inning
threat.
Voyles stepped to the plate in the bottom half of the first inning
and picked up right where she left off in the Southeast Super
Regionals, belting the fourth pitch she saw over the fence in
left-center, a solo blast to give the Saints the lead at 1-0.
Courtney McGuire added to the North Georgia lead in the fourth
inning as the senior skied a ball to right field that caught the
wind and inched out of the park, giving the Saints their second
solo shot of the game and making it a 2-0 advantage.
North Georgia added to their lead in the fourth inning as Lauren
Dykes reached base on an infield single and stole second before
being lifted for Jessica Skeels who came around to score on a
triple of the bat of McGuire, her second hit, and second RBI of the
game. Hilary Cox stepped to the plate two batters later and laced a
single to right field, sending McGuire trotting home and extending
the Saints lead to 4-0.
Sarah Phillips picks up her 10th win of the postseason, as the
junior is now 44-0 on the year, tossing her 39th complete game of
the year, and 23rd shutout of the season. She allowed just three
hits in all 7.0 innings of work, while walking two and striking out
six.
North Georgia is now just four wins shy of tying the NCAA’s
all-time mark for consecutive wins, while moving three wins away
from becoming the first softball team in history at any level to
capture a National Championships with a perfect record.
NORTH GEORGIA POSTGAME QUOTES
North Georgia Head Coach
Mike Davenport:
(Opening Comments) “I want to tip my hat to
Malloy, they battled from first pitch on, I mean we got out of a
big jam in the first inning – I thought that was important to
get out of there without giving up any runs on the board.
Their left-handed pitcher, [Butterworth], she baffled us.
You’ve got to tip your hat to her, what a job – comes
in their first time in the World Series – and strikes out
nine of our kids. It would have been different if I felt we
had a chance on those strike outs, but we weren’t even
close.”
“I think later in the game when we finally adjusted and
started going to right field with our bats I think that is what
finally got us on the board.”
“I’m sure she would love to have that pitch back, the
one to Laura [Voyles] in the first inning, it was a change-up and
she just left it up. Laura does a great job leading off
ballgames for us and putting us on the board early. It gives
us a pretty good shot.”
(On getting off on the
right foot) “From the outside, people keep talking
about our record and our ranking – and that is something they
deserve and have earned, but that can’t be taken away.
All eight teams have a shot – you have a one in eight chance
in winning this thing.”
“The ultimate goal is to walk out of this thing Monday night
holding the trophy – you can do that with a loss. I’ll
trade you a loss as long as we can keep playing tomorrow –
these kids will hopefully buy into that and keep going to battle.
Senior Second baseman Laura
Voyles:
(On Scoring in the first innings) “It was
pretty good – we had big momentum going into that first
inning as far as offense, because we got the big double play at the
end [of the top half of the inning], so it kind of pumped up our
confidence. I got in the box just trying to keep the momentum
up”
(On finding success at the plate) “We
stepped into the box too anxious instead of waiting for our pitch
and what pitch we wanted to pitch instead of swinging at her rise
ball, her drop ball, or change-up and taking it to right
field.”
(Her opening at-bat home run) “It was
amazing. Just to get our team up one run. We are a
great hitting team and no matter what pitcher is on the mound,
whether they throw 80 or 45, we are a strong offensive team and we
will score some runs.”
Junior Pitcher Sarah
Phillips:
(On her performance) I went out in the first
inning and started off the game with a four pitch walk –
which is never the way you want to start a game – but I
always have confidence in my defense.”
“I feel like I have the strongest defense in the
country. They are unbelievable and today they proved
it. Kathryn Martin, our first-baseman, stopped a ball going
from the outfield that would have scored a run and made the play at
first. Courtney [McGuire] throws a girl out from right
field. It’s just those kind of plays that make our team
who we are and get us those wins.”
Senior Right Fielder
Courtney McGuire
(On finding success at the plate) “I think
watching the whole line-up go through the first two innings and
seeing how she has thrown really helped. We took her strong
pitches to right field. We listened and we
performed.”
