Union, N.J. – The Mount Saint Mary College Women's Softball team will make its second straight appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament Friday afternoon when it tussles with #11 Christopher Newport on the campus of Kean University un Union, N.J. Live Stats and Video will be available throughout the regional for those who cannot attend.
First Pitch: The Knights and Captains are set to get underway at 1:00 p.m. on the campus of Kean University. The appearance in the second straight for the Knights in the NCAA Regional Round and third since the 2001 season.
Last Time Out: The Knights claimed their second straight Skyline Conference Championship on Sunday with a 1-0 win over Sage.
Taylor Canto (Walden, N.Y.) drove in the game's only run with a sacrifice fly and
Cindy Connoly (Walden, N.Y.) worked her 20
th complete game and fourth shutout in the win. She was named the Skyline Championship Most Outstanding Player after going 3-0 with a 0.33 earned run average and 30 strikeouts.
Around The Regional: In addition to the Knights and Captains, the host #13 Kean and Neumann will meet at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Winners and losers from each game will get together on Saturday with a second elimination game scheduled to end day two of competition.
Records, Records, Records: The Knights enter play on Friday with a single season best 27 victories and individually, three Knights set career standards during the 2017 season.
Shannon Sommer (Brewster, N.Y.) holds the Mount's all-time record in hits (195) and runs (121),
Michelle Surdan (Acton, Mass.) has driven in a career record 88 runs and Connoly has fanned 422 batters.
Weather: With heavy rain in the forecast for Saturday be sure to check back to
www.msmcknights.com and twitter for updates and potential schedule changes.
Conference Accolades: The Knights had six Players named All-Skyline Conference, including Connoly who was a First Team selection and the league's Pitcher of the Year for the third straight season. Joining Connoly on the First Team were Sommer, Surdan,
Nicolette Moustouka (Seaford, N.Y.) and
Courtney Barbara (Fishkill, N.Y.).
Amanda Almodovar (Goshen, N.Y.) was named Second Team for the second straight season and head coach
Jessica Mushel was tabbed the league's Coach of the Year for the third consecutive year.
Scouting Christopher Newport: Christopher Newport enters the tournament at 31-8 overall and as the winner of the Capital Athletic Conference Championship. The Captains have won their last eight outings overall, including three contests in the CAC Championship and are ranked #11 in the latest NFCA Poll.
Christopher Newport is hitting .357 as a team and is led by a .460 mark at the plate from Rachael Payne. She has 57 hits, 49 runs scored, 12 doubles and 33 runs batted in. Leah Andrews has slugged six home runs and Jenn Sprinkle has driven in a team-high 36 runs. Four players have stolen at least 10 bases, led by 15 from Rachael Shiflett who has swiped 15 bags and holds a .447 on-base percentage.
The pitching staff has a 2.27 earned run average and is led by Aubrey Bates who is 11-2 with a 1.60 earned run average. She has struck out 63 batters in 91.2 innings of work with opponents hitting .213 against her. Tara Heatwole and Maiven McKnight have each won 10 games for the Captains.
