SALEM, VA. – Top-seeded and nationally second-ranked Louisiana College scored three times in the bottom of the third and made those runs hold up as the Lady Wildcats defeated 22nd-ranked and fourth-seeded Cortland, 3-1, in a NCAA Division III World Series winner's bracket game.

Cortland (39-12) will play long-time rival Ithaca College in an elimination game Sunday at noon. Ithaca stayed alive in the tournament with a 4-0 win versus Lynchburg College on Saturday. Louisiana (44-5) will play Sunday in the winner's bracket final versus either Wisconsin-Eau Claire or Muskingum

"Just the odds of Cortland and Ithaca both being in the Series are low because we usually play in the same regional," said Cortland head coach Julie Lenhart. "Playing Ithaca in a 'knockout' game (of the World Series) is almost the highlight of the season. Trying to win a national championship is obviously our top goal, but having the chance to play Ithaca here is right behind that. There will be a lot of emotion and no holding back."

Louisiana recorded five of its six hits off Cortland starter Katie Finch (Amsterdam/Broadalbin-Perth) in its decisive third inning. Allison Frye singled to shortstop, Ashleigh Clement singled to short left field and Jessica Thompson reached on a bunt single to load the bases with no outs. Erica Harwell followed with an RBI single that dunked in down the right field line and, two batters later, Amber Thomas singled through the left side to drive in two runs.

Finch struck out the next two batters to escape further damage, and allowed only one more baserunner over her final three innings on a Clement infield single in the fourth. Finch finished with four strikeouts and one walk and is 22-8 on the season.

"I didn't change too much," said Finch when asked how she approached facing the formidable Lady Wildcats' lineup. "I try to move the ball. Their best hit was probably the push bunt (by Thompson). They got some breaks and I didn't."

Louisiana's Kelly Williams threw a five-hitter with seven strikeouts and just one walk to earn the win. She shut down the Red Dragons until the top of the sixth when freshman Donnalyn Cross (Binghamton/Chenango Valley) singled up the middle, went to second on an Amanda Barnett (Syracuse/Jamesville-DeWitt) sacrifice bunt, took third on an Annemarie Nelson (Nassau/Columbia) single and scored on Emily Ringen's (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) sacrifice fly to center.

Cortland threatened in the first inning but couldn't get on the board. Cross, who finished 2-for-3, led off with a single that deflected off Williams' glove and rolled to second. She stole second and went to third on a Barnett groundout. Nelson drew a walk, and continued to run to second on the play to put runners on second and third with one out. Williams struck out the next two batters, however, to escape any damage.

"We had opportunities early but couldn't take advantage," said Lenhart. "We came out aggressively and it would have been great to score. We had trouble adjusting to (Williams)."

Cortland's last attempt to rally in the seventh started with a pinch-hit single by Crystal Carlson (Lancaster/Iroquois). Sophomore Sammi Dieffenbach (Erin/Horseheads) also pinch hit and hit a hard line drive, but right to the third baseman. A pop-up and a groundout ended the contest.

 

Box Score

Tournament Web Site (includes Live Stats and Video Webcast links)