In order to get to a place it’s seldom been, the University of Charleston softball team must now venture to a place it very recently — and very painfully — visited.
Chloe Elliott flirted with a shutout and five Golden Eagles contributed RBI hits Tuesday afternoon as UC opened the Atlantic Super Regional best-of-three series with a bang, earning a 5-1 victory against visiting Kutztown at Watt Powell Annex in Charleston.
Hannah Rose and Hannah Meyer each blasted solo home runs for the Golden Eagles (50-5), who can wrap up their second-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II World Series when they play Kutztown at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Watt Powell Annex.
“I could not ask for more from these kids,†UC coach Michelle Frew said. “We’ve rose above lots of adversity, and the kids are stepping up. We know we can get it from a lot of different people, and they believe it.â€
The Golden Eagles now find themselves in the exact same position as last year, when they captured Game 1 of the Atlantic Super Regional at East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, but lost the next two games of the series to miss out on a World Series bid, which would be their first since 2016.
“Our big thing is one game at a time,†Frew said. “Unfortunately, our kids know what it feels like to be one game up and then lose. I know they don’t want to feel that way again. I think with our experience now, we have a good shot.â€
Elliott, who took over for staff ace Brianna McCown (31-4, 1.56 ERA), finished with a five-hitter, allowing the Golden Bears’ lone run in the top of the seventh on an RBI fielder’s choice from Brianna Hughes. Elliott struck out four and walked one.
UC backed Elliott with some slick fielding, committing no errors, turning a pair of double plays and seeing catcher Meyer throw out a runner attempting to steal second.
“She knows we’ve got good defense behind her,†Frew said. “We’re the No. 1 defense in the country. Just keep the ball on the black, and we’ll field it for you.â€
Frew indicated that McCown could be able to return and pitch on Wednesday.
“There was lot of talk about how we’re not pitching Bri and stuff,†Frew said, “but the kids are like, ‘No, come on. We hit, we field. We’ve got good pitching behind it.’ Very proud of how they believe in one another. Can’t ask for more.â€
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UC vaulted into a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, scoring on Bella Andujar’s double, Alli Rubal’s single and Bianca Polistina’s double. Rose (2 for 3) socked her homer in the second and Meyer added a blast in the fourth.
Kutztown (36-24) got runners aboard in each of the first four innings, but had nothing to show for it. In fact, the Golden Bears didn’t advance a runner to second base until the seventh inning. They hit eight pop-ups or flyouts off Elliott.
“Bad day,†said veteran Kutztown coach Judy Lawes, who stands fourth all-time in Division II victories. “We didn’t hit like we usually hit. We didn’t move the runners at the beginning, which I think is pretty important if you do want to cash in.
“We have a pretty good hitting team. I think that pitcher just got us a little off-balance. She had some good spin and we were getting down under it, popping some things up. Maybe you think you can crank it out, but it’s not as easy as it looks. So maybe changing our swings a little bit and not muscle it — we were talking about that. Try to come back tomorrow and have better swings.â€
Kutztown reliever Natalee Harvey permitted just three UC hits in her four innings, with the only score coming on Meyer’s homer.
“They came out hitting well,†Lawes said of UC’s players. “They have a good offense and brought it today. Got on the board and stayed with it. We started getting zeroes, but not putting anything up [ourselves]. Then you’re not putting any pressure on them.â€
The Division II World Series takes place at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood, Florida, May 19-25.
KUTZTOWN 000 000 1 — 1 5 1
CHARLESTON 310 100 x — 5 8 0
Gravish, Harvey (3) and Harvat; Elliott and Meyer. Hitting: (K) Darnowski 2-3; Hughes RBI. (UC) Rose 2-3, 2B, HR; Andujar 2-3, 2B, RBI; Polistina 2B, RBI; Meyer HR.
