Friday, May 10, 2013

ARCATA, Calif. – Saint Martin’s earned its  first-ever NCAA softball tournament victory Friday defeating Grand Canyon 2-1 in the opening round of the NCAA Division II West Regional.

The Saints (40-14) will face top-seed Humboldt State in Saturday’s second round at 11 a.m.  The Lumberjacks defeated UC San Diego 7-1 in their opening game.

Pitcher Sam Munger shut down one of the top hitting teams in Division II allowing just one run on four hits to earn her 23rd win against seven losses.  The Antelopes entered the game batting .342, ninth best in the country.

Munger also extended her own personal hitting streak to 23 games – the second longest in GNAC history - as she went 2-for-4. 

SMU found its way on the board in the third inning as Lacey McGladrey and Megan Miller strung together a pair of singles with one out. A ground out advanced McGladrey to third and Joslyn Eugenio collected her 51st RBI of the season to score McGladrey to give the Saints the lead.

Munger helped her own cause in the fifth inning. McGladrey was hit by a pitch and Miller moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Munger then singled up the middle scoring McGladrey.

The ‘Lopes got a run back in the fifth to cut it to 2-1. Grand Canyon then had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. 

A walk and a single and a sacrifice moved the tying and winning run into scoring position but Munger was able to get a ground ball back to her to secure the win.

SMU finished the game with eight hits, including two each by  McGladrey, Munger and Dani Wall.