May 10, 2008

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Wright State scored single runs in the second and third innings and, behind a two-hit shutout performance from tournament MVP Sharon Palma, the Raiders won their second straight Horizon League softball championship Saturday with a 2-0 decision over Cleveland State at the Loyola Softball Park in Chicago.

WSU scored a run in the second as, with two outs, Mollie Berry tripled to right and came in to score a pitch later as the delivery from Cleveland State pitcher Amanda Macenko went off the glove of Viking catcher Haley Keller for a passed ball.

CSU threatened in its half of the second as Katelyn Ciminelli walked with one out, went to second on a ground out and advanced to third as Keller reached on a strikeout wild pitch, but Palma pitched out of the jam by getting Kristina Stoffer to ground out.

The Raiders tacked on an insurance run in the third as Briauna Birl led off with a hit to center, went to third on a ground out along with an error and scored on a hit to left by Louie Haney.

It was all Palma from there as she allowed just two hits, a single by Christa Coppus in the fourth and a double from Stoffer in the fifth, the rest of the way in picking up her fourth straight win of the tournament and improving to 18-9 on the season.

Palma was named tournament MVP while Jherica Williams was named the Batting Champion of the tournament and Bridget Henry received the Defensive Award. Palma and Williams were selected to the All-Tournament Team along with Louie Haney and Mollie Berry.

Wright State will take a 33-24 mark into the NCAA Regionals next week. The Raiders will find out their destination and first-round opponent Sunday night as the pairings are announced live on ESPNU at 10:00.

All-Tournament Team
Sharon Palma, Wright State (MVP)
Mollie Berry, Wright State
Louie Haney, Wright State
Jherica Williams, Wright State
Jessica Burt, Cleveland State
Katelyn Ciminelli, Cleveland State
Amanda Houchin, Cleveland State
Amanda Macenko, Cleveland State
Nora Schober, Loyola
Amy Solava, Loyola
Stephanie Chavez, UIC
Sarah Clynes, UIC

Batting Champion
Jherica Williams, Wright State

Pitching Award
Sarah Clynes, UIC

Fielding Award
Bridget Henry, Wright State