United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Softball - Bears NCAA Run Ends in Extra Innings of Championship Game

WELLESLEY, MASS.--(5/16/10)--In a match-up between two of New England's top pitchers, Coast Guard's Hayley Feindel and Eastern Connecticut's Molly Rathbun, Rathbun and the Warriors prevailed 1-0 in nine innings to win the NCAA Regional Championship this afternoon at Wellesley College.

Eastern, 36-4-1 and this season's Little East title-holder, advances to the 2010 NCAA Division III Softball Championship, May 21-25, at University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. Coast Guard, the 2010 NEWMAC champion, finishes the season with a record of 34-10.

Coast Guard advanced to the NCAA regional championship game for the second straight season, the programs first two NCAA tournament appearances.

Both hurlers dominated play in the early going, with Feindel holding the Warriors hitless and Rathbun giving up just one hit through three innings. Coast Guard threatened in the bottom of the fourth, using back-to-back singles from Holli Bastinck and Courtney Wolf and a walk to load the bases with one out. But Rathbun fanned the next two batters to hold the score at 0-0.

In spite of a couple minor threats, the scoreless battle continued through seven frames, pushing the game into extra innings. After a scoreless eighth, Eastern's Arielle Cooper doubled to lead off the ninth and scored on a Coast Guard miscue to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead. Rathbun retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning to seal the win.

Rathbun, 27-1, earned the win, her fourth of the tournament, giving up five hits and two walks while fanning 14.

Bastinck led the Bears with two hits. Wolf, Becky Miller, and Megan Cook chipped in one single apiece.

Despite a strong performance, Feindel, 32-10, is saddled with the loss, surrendering four hits, walking four and striking out five and allowing the one unearned run in nine innings.

Coast Guard put four players on the All-tournament team in Feindel, Bastinck, designated player Courtney Wolf and catcher Amanda Frederick

Frederick ended the season with single-season school records for hits (71), RBI's (51) and doubles (18) while Wolf led the team with 10 home runs this season and leaves as the Bears all-time leader with 29 in just three seasons.