Sophomore Alix Dean used a bases-loaded hit in the top of the ninth inning to lift the No. 4-ranked Angelo State softball team (45-8) to a 13-12 win over Emporia State Saturday in the winner's bracket of the 2009 NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament.
The Rambelles scored 12 runs on 19 hits through five innings but did not record another hit until Dean plated junior Kristen Frye with a one-out single up the middle. Junior right-hander Chelsea Nelson (27-4) then capped the victory the bottom of the frame, striking out Hornet lead-off hitter Angela Mahan to end the game.
Angelo State freshman Sandy James opened the scoring on the third pitch of the game with her NCAA D-II leading 25th home run of the season. The long ball matched the NCAA all division freshman record for homers, equaling former Alabama star and Olympian Kelly Kretschman (1998).
The Hornets (43-15) knotted the game in the bottom of the first before ASU would take a three-run cushion, scoring two runs in the second and another in the third. Angelo State used an RBI triple by Frye to regain the lead and added a double by James to take a 3-1 lead after two. Senior Macy Baker then led off the third frame with her 13th home run of the season.
Emporia State would plate five runs in the bottom of the third frame, using five hits and two errors to nab a 6-4 lead. The Hornets got an RBI on a single by Miranda Campbell, another on a double by Ashley Brattin and runs on a single by Jenna Potter.
The Rambelles answered with three runs in the top of the fourth on a home run by Dean, her seventh of the season, but once again ESU responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame, taking back a 9-7 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, ESU tied the game with a sacrifice fly by Jennifer Dace, scoring Mahan, and then took the lead on a Rambelle. Abby Smith would later plate Campbell on a ground out to give ESU a two-run advantage.
It was then Angelo State's turn for the big inning. The Rambelles would score five runs in the top of the fifth on six hits, to take back the lead, 12-9. The Rambelles started the scoring with an RBI single by Frye, scoring junior Sarah DeMoss. Junior Nicole Smith then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game, 9-9. ASU then got RBI singles by senior Laura Lopez, Baker and Dean to take back the lead.
The Hornets would again respond, with a pair of runs on Hughes' 13th home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth and then took advantage of ASU's fifth error of the day, plating the tying run in the bottom of the sixth.
Nelson started the contest for the Rambelles but then gave way to junior April Haywood two batters into the fourth inning before re-entering to start the seventh. Nelson pitched a total of 6.0 innings and gave up five earned runs on 11 hits with five strikeouts. Haywood tossed the middle three innings and allowed two earned runs on two hits.
Baker led the offensive charge going 4-for-4 with two RBI, two runs scored and drew two walks. Frye went 3-for-4, Lopez went 3-for-5 and Dean went 3-for-6. Dean led the Rambelles with five RBI.
For ESU, Jennifer Heerey (20-8) was handed the loss as she tossed the final 4.2 innings in relief of starter Megan Dennis. Dennis threw the first 4.1 innings, allowing eight earned runs on 14 hits with six strikeouts. Heerey gave up four earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts and four walks. Jill Peters led ESU with a 3-for-5 performance with two RBI and a run scored.
The Rambelles will now advance to the tournament title game 1 p.m. Sunday. The Hornets will play against 7 p.m. Saturday against the winner of the Nebraska-Omaha/St. Edward's game.
