The No. 5 seed Roadrunner softball team completed their Spring 2021 season Saturday, falling 6-4 to No. 3 seed Herkimer in a consolation quarterfinal contest at the NJCAA DIII Championships in Syracuse, NY.
The Runners battled hard, finding themselves in a 3-3 tie heading into the bottom of the fifth inning when Herkimer scored two runs to take the lead for good.
"Our girls battled hard in every single game, and we're pretty darn proud of everyone," said Coach Steve DePasquale. "This is a young team, and these players have seen where they want to be -- this will help us in all of our preparations for next season."
Down 6-3 heading into the top of the seventh, RCSJ added one more run when Selena Chila doubled to right center to score Emily MacGibeney.
Earlier, freshman Victoria London slammed a two-run homer in the top of the second, while the Runners added an unearned run in the fourth to tie the game at 3-3.
Despite the loss, freshman pitcher Lacy Abrego hurled six solid innings, scattering 8 hits. She finished her 2021 season with a 12-3 record.
The Runners, who entered the tournament with an at-large selection, finished their season with a 26-11 overall record and with a fourth place finish in the championship standings thanks to a 2-2 tourney record. After losing their opening game to North Dakota SCS, the Runners defeated Rainy River CC and College of DuPage prior to the loss to Herkimer.
Rock Valley CC won its seventh straight overall NJCAA Division III Championship with a 13-2 win over runnerup Corning. Click below for a final wrap.
Rock Valley wins seventh straight NJCAA DIII Softball Championship - NJCAA
Day 2 Results
Suddenly the bats have caught fire as the Roadrunner softball team proved that no deficit is too large to overcome.
During the 2021 NJCAA Softball Championships in Syracuse, NY on Friday, the No. 5 seed Runners quickly fell behind early and often to No. 6 College of DuPage. But Coach Steve DePasquale's team refused to die and rallied for an exciting 12-11 triumph to advance to the consolation quarterfinal round against No. 3 Herkimer, set for Saturday morning at 11:00 am.
The Chapparals built commanding leads of 5-0 and 9-3, and appeared ready to run away with the game in easy fashion. But, thanks to timely hitting from Paige Fox, Victoria London and Sabrina Finneran, each of whom finished with two RBIs, the Runners tied it in the fifth inning with two runs before finally grabbing the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth.
Fox capped the amazing comeback by delivering an RBI hit in the sixth inning to give her team the 12-11 lead, the eventual winning margin.
Freshman hurler Lacey Abrego came on to pitch the top of the seventh and close out the win. Sophomore Mackenzie Ponto, who turned in three solid innings of middle relief, was the winning pitcher.
The rainy conditions then intervened and forced the postponement of the consolations quarterfinals on Friday featuring the Roadrunners vs. No. 3 Herkimer, a winner over North Dakota SCS.
That game will be played starting at 11:00 am Saturday.
Day 1 Results
Roadrunner softball coach Steve DePasquale was happy to see his team enjoy a breakout game in the post season. It happened Thursday during the NJCAA 2021 Division III National Softball Championship Tournament in Syracuse, NY when the Runners rolled to a 9-3 triumph over Rainy River CC (Minnesota) in Game 2 of the tournament.
The win over Rainy River followed a heartbreaking loss to North Dakota SCS in the opening round and was the first of the postseason for the Runners, who also lost twice in the Region XIX playoffs.
Against the Voyageurs, Selena Chila collected two hits, including an RBI double, while teammate Emily MacGibeny stroked three hits to spark the offense. Winning pitcher Lacey Abrego allowed six hits and three runs over seven innings, striking out three.
"It was nice to see the kids break out and hit the ball," noted DePasquale. "Once someone gets going at the plate, it seems everyone follows suit. Let's hope we have a good pattern going here."
In Game 1 of the tournament, the Runners dropped a tough 5-3 decision to North Dakota SCS, which scored four runs in the third inning to seal the outcome. Losing pitcher Mackenzie Ponto performed well, allowing six hits and five runs.
The Runners hope to advance when they meet No. 6 seed College of DuPage Friday morning at 10 am.
Tournament Preview
Coach Steve DePasquale's Roadrunner softball team has earned an at-large selection to the 2021 NJCAA Division III Softball Championship on May 27-29, at the Carrier Park Field of Dreams in Syracuse, NY.
The Runners received the No. 5 seed and will meet No. 4 seed North Dakota State College of the Science (North Dakota SCS) in the opening round on Thursday, May 27 in a 10 am start.
The at-large selection comes on the heels of a devastating elimination the Runners suffered in the recent Region XIX tournament with losses to Camden County College and RCSJ Cumberland. Prior to the Region XIX Tourney the Runners (24-9 overall) had risen to the No. 3 spot in the NJCAA D-III National Rankings.
The chance at redemption -- to show they belong among the best in the nation -- is welcomed by DePasquale and his players.
"The biggest thing we learned out of the Region XIX tournament is that we have to compete every single game, or you won't be successful," said DePasquale. "We were disappointed at the outcome, but we're being given another opportunity here and it's time to step up. And the players are excited to have this second chance."
DePasquale and his staff have been hard at work in researching the Runners' first opponent, North Dakota State College (SCS) of Science.
"It's a tough one because North Dakota SCS comes out of a region we don't normally see," DePasquale said. "We've searched all internet sites for info on all of our potential opponents -- and hopefully we're ready."
Rock Valley CC has been designated No. 1 seed, entering the tournament with a 41-7 overall seed. In addition, No. 6 seed College of DuPage has also received an at-large selection.
The first-round matchups and additional info are found below.
2021 NJCAA DIII Softball Championship
May 27-29, 2021
Carrier Park Field of Dreams
Syracuse, NY
Schedule for May 27, 2021
10:00 am
No. 1 Rock Valley (41-7) vs. No. 8 Rainy River (18-12)
Final: Rock Valley 25, Rainy River 0
No. 4 North Dakota SCS (30-21) vs. No. 5 RCSJ-Gloucester (24-9)
Final: North Dakota SCS 5, Roadrunners 3
1:00 pm
No. 2 Corning (34-1) vs. No. 7 Suffolk County (23-2)
Final: Corning 3, Suffolk County 0
No. 3 Herkimer (30-4) vs. No. 6 College of DuPage (18-17)
Final: DuPage 7, Herkimer 4
Second Round Games
No. 5 RCSJ-Gloucester vs. No. 8 Rainy River CC
Final: Roadrunners 9, Rainy River CC 3
No. 4 North Dakota SCS at No. 1 Rock Valley
Final: Rock Valley 11, North Dakota SCS 1
No. 6 College of DuPage at No. 2 Corning
Final: Corning 2, DuPage 0
No. 7 Suffolk County at No. 3 Herkimer
Final: Herkimer 7, Suffolk County 6
Schedule for Friday, May 28, 2021
No. 5 RCSJ-Gloucester vs. No. 6 College of DuPage
Final: RCSJ-Gloucester 12, College of DuPage 11
No. 3 Herkimer vs. No. 4 North Dakota SCS
Final: Herkimer 11, North Dakota SCS 10
No. 7 Suffolk County vs. No. 8 Rainy River CC
Final: Suffolk County 8, Rainy River CC 3
No. 4 North Dakota SCS vs. No, 6 College of DuPage
Final: North Dakota SCS 7, College of DuPage 6
Schedule for Saturday, May 29
11:00 am
Elimination Game
No. 5 RCSJ Gloucester vs. No. 3 Herkimer
Fimal: Herkimer 6, RCSJ Gloucester 4
1:00 pm
Semifinal
No. 2 Corning vs. No. 1 Rock Valley
Rock Valley 8, Corning 0
4:00 pm
Elimination Game
No. 3 Herkimer vs. No. 2 Corning
Final: Corning 4, Herkimer 3
Schedule for Sunday, May 30th
12 Noon
Championship Final Game 1
No. 2 Corning vs. No. 1 Rock Valley
Final: Rock Valley 13, Corning 2
Champion: Rock Valley
You can watch the 2021 NJCAA DIII Softball Championships live on the NJCAA Network:
NJCAA.org/Network