2006 USA South Softball
Tournament
Thursday-Saturday, April 13th-15th
Burlington Springwood Park
Burlington, NC
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Methodist captures 2006 USA South Tournament crown with 4-3 win
BURLINGTON, N.C.
- The Lady Monarchs of Methodist College captured the 2006 USA South
Tournament championship crown with a thrilling 4-3 win in the bottom of
the seventh over Greensboro College Saturday afternoon at Springwood
Complex.
Methodist (38-6) qualifies for the NCAA Tournament with its seventh-ever tournament title - the championship is its first since 2003.
Greensboro (29-13) took the early 1-0 lead with a run in the second only to see the Monarchs battle back with a pair in the third. The Pride answered with another two runs in their next trip to the plate, chasing MC starter and USA South Pitcher of the Year Jennifer Sorensen in the process.
MC tied the contest at 3-3 with a single run in the fifth before loading the bases in the sixth. However, GC hurler Stacie Paterson ended the threat with a strikeout and groundout.
In the seventh, Candace Hudgins singled with one out and advanced to second when shortstop Jessica Clack couldn't come up the ball cleanly as she went to her left. After advancing to third on a Lisa Jackson groundout, Hudgins scampered home with the championship run as Paterson uncorked a wild pitch.
Caryn Moreland and Amy Faucette each had two hits for the victors while Brittany Smith was 3-for-3 with all three RBI for Greensboro. She had two of these runs batted in with a single up the middle in the fourth inning.
Below is the complete 2006 USA South All-Tournament team.
C - Lisa
Jackson, Methodist
1B - Kristina Wilhelm, Ferrum
2B - Lauren Manning, Greensboro
3B - Whitney Williams, Greensboro
SS - Ashlee Bass, NC Wesleyan
OF - Jenee Johnson, Greensboro
OF - Caryn Moreland, Methodist
OF - Alicia Sanders, Shenandoah
DH - LaTiana Headen, Methodist
P - Jessica Hutzul, Methodist - Most Valuable Player
P - Libby Fulford, NC Wesleyan