MAY 14, 2005
BOB ZIADIE
KING'S SOFTBALL ADVANCES TO REGIONAL TITLE GAME WITH 1-0 VICTORY OVER ITHACA - GIGLIELLO WINS 300TH CAREER GAME AS LADY MONARCH MENTOR
http://www.ithaca.edu/bombers/
ITHACA, NY -- Senior pitcher Sarah Genewski tossed a two-hitter and junior Cassy Shiffer drove in the lone run of the contest in the fifth inning as the King's College softball team advanced to the title game of the NCAA Regional Championships with a 1-0 victory over host Ithaca College Saturday in Ithaca, NY.
With the win, sixth-seeded King's improved to 34-10 on the year while advancing to the regional championship round for the first-time in school history. Ithaca, seeded fifth, slips to 26-12 but remains alive in the double-elimination event. In the process, the Lady Monarchs handed head coach Lisa Gigliello the 300th victory of her 12-year career at King's.
The game featured an outstanding pitching dual between Genewski and Ithaca starter Nicole Cade as neither team could muster a run until the fifth inning.
Mari Valonis led off the inning for the Lady Monarchs by drawing a walk. Annie Drimones entered the game to pinch run for Valonis and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kate Shiffer. Genewski then reached base on an error. moving Drimones to third base.
Ithaca would then replace Cade (8-7) with Carly Myers, who promptly served up a single up the middle to Cassy Shiffer as Drimones touched home with what proved to be the game-winning run.
Genewski (13-5) was outstanding for the Lady Monarchs as just four Ithaca players reached base. She struck out six batters and allowed only a first inning single to Hannah Shallett and a fourth inning double to Mel Chinigo. Genewski surrendered a first inning walk while a fourth Ithaca player reached base on an error.
King's had three hits in the game as Justine Maggio and Nikki Kotula joined Cassy Shiffer with singles.
The Lady Monarchs will now play for the regional championship Sunday at 2:00 p.m. against the survivor of the loser's bracket games between Western New England, Misericordia, and Ithaca. With a 3-0 mark in the event, King's must be beaten twice.
Should the Lady Monarchs lose on Sunday the same two teams will play again Monday at 10:00 a.m. for the regional title and a trip to the College World Series May 20-24 at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex in Raleigh, North Carolina.
King's College
133 North River Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
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Questions or comments to: Bob Ziadie, King's College Sports Information Director
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