Francis Marion Wins NCAA Softball Region Title

PEMBROKE, NC – Sophomore left-hander Michaela Wolf tossed her second consecutive four-hit shutout as Francis Marion University beat North Georgia College & State University 1-0, Saturday evening (May 10) to win the NCAA Division II Women’s Softball South Atlantic Regional.

The fifth-seeded Patriots (38-14) had beaten the sixth-seeded Saints (38-15) 3-0 three hours earlier to force the second and final championship contest. The regional was played at LRA Field on the campus of UNC Pembroke.

FMU advances to the NCAA Division II National Finals (Elite Eight) this coming week in Houston, Texas. Both Francis Marion and North Georgia were making their first-ever trips to the Division II South Atlantic Regional.

Wolf had also beaten Armstrong Atlantic State University 5-4 early Saturday afternoon to keep the Patriots alive and get them to the title games.

In the final, Wolf (28-11) struck out five, walked only one, and allowed two base runners in the same inning only once. She stranded runners on third in both the third and sixth innings.

FMU junior shortstop Shannan Tyson walked to open the bottom of the first. She moved to second on a bunt single by Lakyn Bendle, and both runners moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Monica Wofford. Third baseman Kat Beauvais then drilled a single through the left side scoring Tyson with what would be the game’s lone run.

North Georgia freshman right-hander Sarah Phillips (20-9) limited FMU to only four hits, while fanning five.

Wolf was 1-for-3 at the plate with a double. Center fielder Krista Bess’ third-inning double was the Saints’ lone extra-base hit.

Wolf was named the regional’s Most Outstanding Player, while teammates Wofford and junior designated player Jessie Alesi joined her on the All-Tournament Team. North Georgia representatives on the All-Tournament Team were Phillips, Bess, outfielder Courtney McGuire, catcher Natasha Willemse, and infielder Kasey Knight.

“What more can you say about a pitcher who wins three games in a day, including back-to-back shutouts in the championship round,” said FMU head coach Stacey Vallee. “Michaela (Wolf) was huge, both on the mound and at the plate. She even developed a new pitch here at the regionals.

“I am so proud of this team and impressed with their effort. Even though we stranded a few runners and were never able to build on our 1-0 lead, the girls never quit.”

FMU’s only previous national tournament experience was four trips to the NAIA World Series in the 1980’s.

Boxscore

2008 NCAA SOUTH ATLANTIC REGIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

P - Michaela Wolf, Francis Marion
P - Sarah Phillips, North Georgia
C - Natasha Willemse, North Georgia
INF - Kari Marsico, Armstrong Atlantic
INF - Whitney Hickam, Carson-Newman
INF - Monica Wofford, Francis Marion
INF - Kasey Knight, North Georgia
OF - Tori Richter, Armstrong Atlantic
OF - Courtney McGuire, North Georgia
OF - Krista Bess, North Georgia
DP - Jessie Alesi, Francis Marion
AT LARGE - Jelena Shaw, UNC Pembroke
AT LARGE - Mandy Chandler, Georgia College
MOP: Michaela Wolf, Francis Marion