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EDINBORO, PA – The Edinboro University
softball team received word today that it is one of eight teams
selected to participate in the NCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic
Softball Regional and will face the host team and second-seeded
Kutztown in their opening round game. . The Mid-Atlantic Regional
runs May 10 -14 at North Campus Field on the campus of Kutztown
University.
Edinboro enters the Mid-Atlantic Regional as
the number seven seed, with a 19-18 record in NCAA Division II
competition and 19-20 overall. (NOTE: The NCAA only takes into
account Division II games for playoff consideration). The
Fighting Scots will face the host team and second-seeded Kutztown
in their opening round game. That contest is scheduled to start at
4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 10. The Golden Bears finished as the
runners-up in the PSAC Tournament and have a 40-16 record.
This marks the first-ever NCAA Playoff berth
for the Fighting Scots, and head coach Dan Gierlak was quite
pleased with the news.
“We’ve been close a couple
times over the years, mostly when the field and was smaller and we
would just miss out,” related Gierlak, who is in his 18th
season as Edinboro’s head coach. “This is the first time
we’ve had this opportunity. I think it speaks well for the
conference (PSAC). Three national champions have come out of the
PSAC in recent years. I’m excited for our kids.”
While it marks the first trip to the NCAA’s
for the Fighting Scots, they will actually return to the same site
where they played a week ago in the PSAC Tournament. That marked
Edinboro’s first appearance in the PSAC playoffs since 1990.
Unfortunately for the Fighting Scots, they lost
twice while playing at Kutztown a week ago. After suffering a 1-0
loss in eight innings to East Stroudsburg in their opening game,
they were eliminated by California(Pa.), 3-1, in their next
outing.
The Mid-Atlantic Regional gets underway on
Thursday with four games. The action begins at 9 a.m. with
fourth-seeded East Stroudsburg (26-25) opposing fifth-seeded
Shippensburg (26-22). At 11:30 a.m., Lock Haven the top seed and
defending national champions, brings a record of 44-3 into its
contest against Bowie State (27-7), the number eight seed.
Third-seeded Bloomsburg (34-13) and North Carolina Central (26-6),
the sixth seed, meet at 2:00 p.m., followed by the
Edinboro-Kutztown contest.
While suffering a pair of losses in last week’s
postseason action, Gierlak feels going back to Kutztown is a
positive for his team.
“It really does help,” he
emphasized. “We the routine, we know where we have to go.
Last week we didn’t play as well offensively as we’re
capable of. Those kids were disappointed. Now we get a second
chance.”
Edinboro relies on the left arm of Vanessa
Rose. The junior has a deceiving 13-14 record with a 1.97 ERA. In
174 innings, she has allowed 151 hits and 19 walks with 197
strikeouts. She has already set school records for innings pitched
and strikeouts.
Dana Webb is the team’s leading hitter
with a .359 average. The sophomore second baseman has three home
runs and has driven in 24 runs, tied for the team lead. Sophomore
third baseman Danielle Arno also has 24 RBIs. She has a .278
average and has set a school record with eight home runs. Another
sophomore, Katelyn Gurgiolo, is hitting .333 and has 14 stolen
bases while playing shortstop.
NCAA DIVISION II MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL
May 10-14, 2007 at Kutztown, PA
Thursday, May 10
Game 1: 9:00 a.m. #4 East Stroudsburg vs. #5 Shippensburg
Game 2: 11:30 a.m. #1 Lock Haven vs. #8 Bowie State
Game 3: 2:00 p.m. #3 Bloomsburg vs. #6 North Carolina Central
Game 4: 4:30 p.m. #2 Kutztown vs. #7 EDINBORO
Friday, May 11
Game 5: 9:00 a.m. Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
Game 6: 11:30 a.m. Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4
Game 7: 2:00 p.m. Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Game 8: 4:30 p.m. Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
Saturday, May 12
Game 9: 9:00 a.m. Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7
Game 10: 11:30 a.m. Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8
Game 11: 2:00 p.m. Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8
Game 12: 4:30 p.m. Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10
Sunday, May 13
Game 13: 12 noon Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 11
Game 14: 2:30 p.m. Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 11
Monday, May 14
Game 15: 12 noon Loser Game 14 vs. Winner Game 14 (if necessary)
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