Softball Rallies Over Pride

BURLINGTON, N.C. - Second-seeded Shenandoah advanced to the winner's bracket championship of the 2009 USA South Conference softball Tournament with a 7-4 victory over No. 3 Greensboro Saturday afternoon at Springwood Park.

The Hornets (27-9) will face top-seeded Christopher Newport in that contest at 4:00 Saturday; the winner of that game will have two chances to claim the 2009 title Sunday afternoon.

Trailing 3-0 after the Pride (20-15) chased Hornets starter Katie Haskins, Shenandoah rallied with seven runs in its final at-bat.

GC starting pitcher Meredith Harris, who had cruised thru the first six innings allowing just two hits, struggled in the last.

Harris allowed seven runs (six earned) on four hits and three walks before being replaced 11 batters into the frame.

SU drew two more walks against reliever Olivia McPherson and the seven-run inning gave coach Marlena Kotynski's team a three-run cushion heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Freshman Brooke Over (9-6), who came on five batters into the third, got three straight flyouts in the seventh to put the finishing touches on the comeback win.

Catherine Beuerle and Marlee Camplese each had two hits with Katie Bundrick driving in a pair.