Alger’s perfect game puts CNU on the verge of Super Regional
Virginia Wesleyan also is in control on its home field
Christopher Newport’s Kate Alger pitched an NCAA regional perfect game Friday as a highstakes collision between Hampton Roads’ Division III softball heavyweights has become even closer.
Alger (14-5) retired all 21 Roanoke batters, striking out seven, as the Captains won 2-0 before 281 fans on their home field in Newport News.
Four Maroons grounded out and 10 flew out as CNU (28-10) won for the second day in a row to move into a commanding position in its four-team group. The defending NCAA champion Captains, ranked 10th nationally, will have two chances to win one game for a berth in the Super Regional round of 16.
CNU got all the runs it needed in the third inning against Roanoke (28-13). Abby Rochette singled to right, advanced to second on Caroline Pollock’s sacrifice bunt, went to third on Bianca Palmer-Scott’s grounder and scored on
Nicole Apai’s double to left-center. Meredith Brickner then singled to left, driving in Apai.
In elimination games later in the day, Misericordia ousted York College of Pennsylvania 7-0 before being eliminated with a 6-1 defeat to Roanoke, earning the Maroons a noon rematch Saturday against CNU.
Virginia Wesleyan 9, The College of New Jersey 3:
Like the Captains, the 13th-ranked Marlins (37-10) won at home to move within one victory of advancing to a Super Regional. The CNU and VWU regional winners
are bracketed to meet next week.
VWU rolled past TCNJ (30-10) as Sarah Prosser, Emma Adams and Caitlin Myers all had three of the Marlins’ 14 hits. Myers drove in three runs, while Adams and Julia Piotrowski knocked in two each.
The Lions went ahead 2-0 in the first inning, but reliever Lauren Bible (14-1) held them to one run in the last five innings.
VWU will play today against a foe that was being determined by Friday’s later results at TowneBank Park in Virginia Beach. The Marlins will have two chances for one triumph.