Lady Jays Make Playoffs By The Skin of Their Teeth!!

The Elizabethtown College Softball team split an intense Commonwealth Conference doubleheader this past Saturday against Albright College.  Winning 10-2 in the first game, and falling 7-1 in the second, the Lady Jays were still able to make conference playoffs.

Entering their final game of the season, the Lady Jays (18-11-1 overall) were tied with Alvernia University (6-6) for the fourth and final spot in playoffs.  Because the Jays had previously swept Alvernia, the outcome of Alvernia's game against Lycoming College determined whether the Jays would make playoffs. Alvernia split their doubleheader with Lycoming guaranteeing Elizabethtown the final spot in playoffs.

Elizabethtown will be the fourth seeded team, playing the Lebanon Valley College (the first seed team), on Friday, May 7 at 11:00am in Annville.

In game one against Arcadia, freshman Elly McCarthy went 2-4 while hitting her ninth homerun of the season to tie the programs single-season record.  Catcher Courtney Comstock stayed strong defensively and offensively finishing 3-4 with three runs scored and two runs batted in.  Winning pitcher Julie Sebastian finished 2-3 with a double and two runs scored.

The Jays came out strong scoring five runs at the bottom of the third, three more in the sixth inning, and finally a two-run double from freshman Whitney Brenaman.

"I think that first game was so different from the rest was because our mindset was just to have fun," said Junior Captian Shannon Marsico.  "In the back of our minds we all knew in order to make playoffs we had to at least win one of the two games, but throughout the game we found ways to keep it upbeat and fun.  I really feel like the lack of pressure on the girls helped us have more confidence up at the plate."

Pitching for the first game was Sophmore Julie Sebastian (10-5) who struck out six, walked one, and gave up only five hits.

"We've been working a lot on Julie's movement," said catcher Courtney Comstock. "In the middle of the season it seemed to decrease a little, but after working with a new pitching coach, her pitches are even better than before.  You can tell she's more confident in the circle."

In game two, Elizabethtown took a one run lead in the bottom of the second and pitching for the Jays was freshman Emily Vogel who shut out the knights in the first four innings.  However, sloppy fielding in the fifth inning caused Arcadia to gain a 4-1 lead on the Jays.  The girls could not fight back at the plate accumulating only six hits off of Knight's pitcher Kelsey Roberts.

"Acradia just capitalized on our mistakes," said Coach Kathy Staib.  "Unfortunately, we weren't able to pick Emily up at the plate and thats really where we got into trouble.  But ya know, it's all a learning experience.  I have complete confidence that these girls will make it far in playoffs.  Their a strong group of girls."

Visit Elizabethtown College's Athletic website to find out more information on the Lady Jays: Blue Jay Softball