Beaver Falls to UC Clermont in 1st Game of the USCAA Tournament

Akron, OH -- Beaver loses opening round game of the USCAA Softball National Tournament.

To open the game, Beaver gave up an early first inning run to the Cougars.  The Lady Lions looked like they might have been able to even the score in their first at bat after Dina Cable (Mannington, NJ / Salem County Vo Tech) was hit by a pitch and then advanced to second.  With the runner in scoring position, Brenna Cepull (Monaca, PA / Central Valley) hit a long ball to left field, but Clermont's left fielder made a great play in foul territory to end the inning, holding Beaver scoreless. 

In the second and third innings, Vanessa Jackson (Snohomish, WA / Snohomish) sat down six consecutive batters, keeping Beaver in the game.  With the momentum on their side, Beaver looked to even the game again in the bottom of the third after Brittany Garza (La Feria, TX / La Feria) singled and stole second to get into scoring position.  A ground out by Lacey Weible (Hookstown, PA / South Side) allowed Garza to advance to third, but despite the early offensive spark, Beaver couldn't capitalize.  

In the fourth and fifth innings the bats for the Cougars started to come alive, but Beaver kept them off the board in their best scoring effort since the first inning.  After giving up a one out triple, Beaver's defense stepped up as first baseman, Brittany Zahn (New Brighton, PA / New Brighton) and catcher, Cable made a run saving play at the plate to end the inning.

However, in the sixth inning Clermont got on the board taking a 2-0 lead.  But Garza again attempted to rally the offense with a lead off single followed by Weible reaching on a fielders choice, but like the innings before Beaver couldn't get a runner across the plate.  Clermont added a final run in the top of the 7th inning to take a 3-0 advantage and eventually the game after Beaver was unable to score in the final at bat of the game.

Leading the offense in the game was Garza going 2 for 3 in the game.  On the mound, Jackson threw the complete game givng up 8 hits and one earned run.  The Lady Lions will return to action at 8:00 p.m. tonight as they drop into the losers bracket and face the loser of the 4:00 p.m. game between #3 Carlow and #6 UMPI.