Beaver Finishes 7th in the USCAA National Tournament

Akron, Ohio -- Beaver defeats UC Clermont to claim 7th place in the USCAA Softball National Tournament.

In this afternoon's seventh place game, Beaver faced UC Clermont, a rematch of the opening round game.  Looking to seek redemption after being knocked into the loser's bracket by Clermont, Beaver came out hot.  With one out, Dina Cable (Mannington, NJ / Salem County Vo Tech) was walked and advanced to second on a Vanessa Jackson (Snohomish, WA / Snohomish) single to the short stop.  A pair of passed balls allowed Cable to score and Jackson to reach third giving Beaver the early 1-0 lead. 

In the top of the second inning Clermont responded and tied the game at 1-1.  But their lead was short lived as Beaver had a 5-run second inning with hits coming from Keasha Barz (Wintersville, OH / Stuebenville), Brenna Cepull (Monaca, PA / Central Valley) and Brittany Zahn (New Brighton, PA / New Brighton) who all singled and Jackson who doubled.  Three batters were also walked in the inning, Torey Cassidy (Hinsdale, NY / Portville), Lacey Weible (Hookstown, PA / South Side) and Cable, who after being walked all reached home safely as Beaver batted through their order in the inning.  

In their next three at bats, the Cougars of UC Clermont were held scoreless on only 3 hits.  In the bottom of the 5th inning, the Lady Lions added their seventh run of the game as Barz scored on a Brittany Garza (La Feria, TX / La Feria) single.  Beaver then sealed their victory in the bottom of the sixth inning.  With one out, Cable was walked and advanced to second on another hit by Jackson, who went 3 for 4 in the game.  Both runners then advanced into scoring position on a passed ball setting the stage for senior, Jenna Petrucci (New Castle, PA / Shenango) who hit a long fly ball to deep center field.  Just feet short of a home run in her final at bat of her career, both runners were able to score giving Petrucci the 2 RBI walk off single to end the game by the mercy rule (9-1).   

Seven different Lady Lions contributed at least one hit in the game with Jackson and Zahn leading the way with three and two hits respectively.  Jackson and Petrucci led the way in RBI's with two a piece.  On the mound was freshman, Torey Cassidy who earned her 6th win of the season throwing all six innings.  

Finishing the year with an overall record of 20-18 the Lady Lions look to return a strong class next fall and return to the USCAA Softball National Tournament in 2018.