Box Score AKRON, Ohio – No. 1 Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College took down No. 5 College of Saint Joseph's – Vermont on Tuesday afternoon on day two of the USCAA Small College Softball World Series. The Pomeroys eight run-ruled the Saints, 9-1, to advance in the winner's bracket. The Pomeroys are now 29-6 on the year and haven't lost a USCAA tournament game since May 14, 2014.
The Pomeroys will now play No. 2 Carlow on Wednesday at Firestone Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. for the battle of the top seeds in Akron, Ohio.
Tuesday saw SMWC's bats come alive with home runs by senior Sarah Burnham and Marlee Yeager. Freshman Kindra Gingerich also recorded two hits, as the Pomeroys recorded nine hits as a team. Burnham pitched a complete game on Tuesday with five strikeouts through six innings and allowed just three hits.
The scoring started in the first for the Pomeroys as Burnham hit her 12th home run of the season to bring in junior Emma Riffe and give SMWC the early 2-0 lead. The Pomeroys weren't done though in the first, as Yeager stepped into the box after Burnham and hit a solo home run to make it 3-0.
Burnham then blanked the Saints in the top of the second, while the Pomeroys added two more runs in the bottom of the second. Gingerich got the bats started in the second with a single to get on base, followed by stealing second and advancing to third on a pass ball. Burnham then singled to score Gingerich. With the 4-0 lead, Yeager then singled to score Burnham and make it 5-0 in favor of the Pomeroys.
The Pomeroys gave the scoreboard a rest in the third and then tacked on one more run in the fourth. This time it was sophomore Kerri Schrock hitting an RBI double to score Yeager. SMWC was then quiet again in the fifth. The top of the sixth saw the Saints score one run, however, SMWC answered with three to secure the eight run-rule. The final three runs of the game were brought in via an RBI single by sophomore Kelly Combs, a walk by freshman Nicole Niespodziany and an RBI single by Gingerich.
Tuesday's victory came on the heels on a 3-2 victory over No. 9 Cleary on Monday night and now has the Pomeroys just one win away from a chance to defend their 2015 national title. A win tomorrow would send SMWC to the USCAA National Championship game for the second year in a row. The game is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Firestone Stadium and LIVE stats and video will be provided via the USCAA. You can also follow the action at the #PomeroySB Headquarters.
