Box Score Jeremy Zalacca - Director of Athletic Communications
SAVANNAH, GA - The trio of Vada Blue Sherrill, Anna Lauren Brafford and Emma Tuttle combined for nine hits as the Pfeiffer softball team (39-16) eliminated Lenoir-Rhyne (48-13) with an 8-3 victory on Friday afternoon. Pfeiffer used a four run third inning to defeat the Bears for the second time in as many days.
Sherrill went 4-for-5 and drove in two runs, while Brafford went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in. Tuttle finished with two hits in four at bats and also drew a walk, reaching base three times. Jaclyn Boever and Rachel Crowder each scored twice in the game. Sam Jarmusch earned her 11th win of the season as the senior tossed four innings in relief of Sydney Poole and allowed just one earned run. Poole gave up two earned runs in her three innings of work.
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the third, Pfeiffer erased the deficit in a decisive fashion. After Boever led off the inning with a single, the next two batters went down on strikes. After that, five batters reached base safely and all four runs scored with two outs. Brafford drove in two runs with a bases loaded single and Jessica Jackson followed with a run scoring double. After a pitching change, Bailey Sherrill reached on a fielding error which scored Brafford and gave the Falcons a 4-1 lead.
The Bears wouldn't go down easily and scored single runs in the fourth and fifth. However, the Bears may have done more damage in the fourth had it not been for a tremendous defensive play by Brafford. With none out and runners on first and third, the right fielder caught a line drive and threw a laser to first base to double off the baserunner.
Pfeiffer broke the game open in the top of the sixth as Millsaps and Brafford recorded back-to-back RBI singles and pushed the advantage to 6-3. Pfeiffer added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a Sherrill double to left center as the Falcons sent Lenoir-Rhyne packing.
The win advances the Falcons to the Regional final and a rematch with Armstrong St. Pfeiffer will need to come away with two victories tomorrow to advance to the NCAA Super Regional. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.
