UNC Pembroke Rallies To Knock Carson-Newman Out Of NCAA Softball Tournament

PEMBROKE, NC - After managing only one hit over the first five innings the Braves of UNC Pembroke rallied for six runs on five hits in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat top-seeded Carson-Newman, 6-3, at the 2008 NCAA South Atlantic Regional on Friday afternoon at LRA Field.

"During the year we've had a lot of games like this, where we were behind late," said UNCP head coach Steve Johnson. "We just kept believing we could come back like we have all season long because we didn't want our season to be over."

With the win UNCP (46-13) eliminated the Lady Eagles (47-8) from regional play, ending the season of the 2008 South Atlantic Conference Champions. Pembroke's Brittany Berrier went 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of runs batted in while C-N's Jessie Howard collected three hits in five at bats against the Braves.

Whitney Landwermeyer picked up the win in relief to improve to 10-5 on the season. She pitched three shutout innings giving up six hits and two walks with one strikeout. Martika Elmore got the start for the Braves giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits with four walks and seven K's in the no-decision.

The Lady Eagles' Zoe Heim (31-7) dominated the Braves' bats over the first five innings, only to have the Black & Gold tally five hits in the sixth. Pembroke was also aided in the inning by three C-N errors, leading to UNCP's six runs, all unearned.

The Braves will go on to play the winner of game 10 later today in a match-up that features the fourth-seeded Georiga College & State Bobcats and the seventh-seeded Pirates of Armstrong Atlantic.

Carson-Newman struck first in the game scoring two runs in the top of the third. The Lady Eagles then loaded the bases in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, coming away with only one run.

With two on and one out in the sixth Loren Bartz singled to left, only to have the C-N leftfielder misplay the ball allowing both runners on base to score. Katie Linkous then singled to center to tie the game at three runs apiece. Pinch-hitter Randi Pruitt then doubled to left-center to plate Linkous and give the Braves a 4-3 lead.

While still in the sixth Brittany Berrier doubled to right-center to give UNCP two more runs, making the score 6-3 after six complete innings. In the top of the seventh with two outs Landwermeyer walked centerfielder Whitney Kee and then gave up an infield single to Howard to give C-N two base runners with the tying run at the plate. Jessie Kuhlman then flew out to centerfield on an 0-2 pitch to end the game.