Softball finishes 2nd at World Series

The women's softball team went back to Rochester, Minnesota for the 2nd straight year and the sophomores had something to prove after going winless in last season's tournament and a chip on the shoulder after being seeded #8 in an eight team tournament.

The tournament started with 3-time defending champion Rock Valley and their 53-2 regular season record. The Sharks kept it close early trailing by scores of 1-0 after 3 and 3-0 after 4. A few tack on runs later and the Sharks ultimately fell 6-0.

The 2nd game of the tournament was a loser's bracket game against #5 seed Onondaga CC. Suffolk responded after the game 1 shutout right away with 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st after a leadoff double by Jamie Parente, a single from Jessica Parente, consecutive RBI singles by Courtney Lawrence and Paige Baker and an RBI groundout from Laura Galligan. From there it belonged to the Sharks pitchers. Cori Augustine went 5 and 1/3 innings of 5 hit ball where she gave up 1 unearned run. Courtney Lawrence pitched out of a bases loaded one out jam in the 6th and then finished the 7th for the 1st of her 3 saves in the tournament.

Friday saw a matchup against #3 seed Rowan College at Gloucester County, a team the Sharks had played 3 times during the regular season and who also beat Suffolk in extra innings last year at the World Series. Suffolk had a 1-0 lead after 4 as Meagan McClinchey doubled home Laura Galligan in the top of the 2nd inning. The Sharks added 3 in the 5th on a 2 RBI single from Paige Baker and an RBI groundout by Jackie Chester. The Road Runners got 2 in the bottom of the 5th, but Suffolk got 4 in the top of the 6th after a 2 RBI double by Jessica Parente and a 2 RBI single from Courtney Lawrence. After Gloucester got 1 in the bottom of the 6th, Suffolk got 2 in the top of the 7th on a Cori Augustine single and Jessica Parente sacrifice fly. 10 runs was more than enough for Cori Augustine as she finished with a complete game 9 hitter and only allowing 2 earned runs.

The 2nd game of Friday's elimination game was against #4 St. Cloud Technical College. The winner of this game advanced to the semi-finals while the loser would finish 4th in the tournament. The Cyclones got off to a quick 2-0 lead with a home run in the top of the 1st and scratched across another run in the top of the 3rd. The Sharks answered with 3 of their own in the bottom of the 3rd after an RBI single by Paige Baker and 2 runs scoring on an error. 3 more runs in the bottom of the 4th gave Suffolk a 6-3 lead, Courtney Lawrence had an RBI walk and Paige Baker continued driving in runs with a 2 RBI single. St. Cloud responded with 2 in the top of the 6th to cut the lead to 6-5. Suffolk added a run in the bottom of the 6th, Maison Zumpol scored on a Courtney Lawrence groundout. As had been the case all tournament long Cori Augustine made the lead hold up and Courtney Lawrence came in for another 5 out save her 2nd of the tournament and Suffolk won 7-5 advancing to the National semi-finals against #2 seed Herkimer County College.

The semi-final game got off to a late start due to rain. After a scoreless 1st inning the Sharks wasted no time in getting on the board with a 7 run 2nd inning. Cori Augustine singled in Jackie Chester with the bases loaded, Maison Zumpol got an RBI as she was hit in the back with a pitch, Jamie Parente hit a 3 run triple to right to give Suffolk a 5-0 lead, Courtney Lawrence singled in Jamie Parente and then Laura Galligan singled in Jessica Parente. The Generals would chip away the rest of the way but the duo of Augustine and Lawrence never relinquished the 7 runs they got in the 2nd. This time Augustine went 5 innings giving up 5 runs and 8 hits, Lawrence came in to pitch the 6th and 7th innings for her 3rd save of the tournament. The 7th inning was a little scary for the Sharks, the Generals had runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out after a sacrifice bunt put the tying run on 2nd with 2 outs and Lawrence got the Herkimer hitter to strike out to end the game and move on to the National Championship game for the 1st time in program history.

The National Championship did not go the way Suffolk would have hoped after staying within 3 runs after 2, their magical run ended as the 3-time defending Champion Golden Eagles continued their World Series dominance with a 20-0 win over the Sharks.

Jamie Parente and Cori Augustine were selected to the All Tournament Team by the tournament Committee.