Myslivecek walk off advances Generals at nationals
ROCHESTER, MN – Facing #6 Hudson Valley for the third time this season didn't faze the #2 Herkimer Generals softball team on Friday (5/15) at McQuillan Sports Complex in Rochester, MN – the host for the 2015 NJCAA DIII National Championship Tournament – relying on a walk off by sophomore Karintha Myslivecek to score the game-winning run in the seventh, defeating the Vikings 5-4 for their third win against the team this season.
Herkimer (37-7, 12-0) fell behind Hudson Valley early until an error by the Vikings in the fourth scored Hannah Desino (Pittsford, NY) to tie it at 3-3, then a hit by Hannah Potter (Pulaski, NY) scored Dana Nicoletti (Syracuse, NY) who tripled with one out in the fifth. Desino didn't record an at-bat in the contest, but Potter did, collecting her 24th run batted in this season.
Hudson Valley still fought back however, scoring a run in the sixth to tie it at 4-4, but then set the stage for the Generals with the team going in order in their half of the seventh. Herkimer's Alexis Capasso (Gloversville, NY) led the seventh off with a single. Two batters later, after Shannon McCann (Horseheads, NY) moved Capasso to second with a sacrifice, Nicoletti singled to left field, giving the Generals runners on first and third with one out. Then Myslivecek came in and put the fourth pitch she saw in play to second, scoring Nicoletti in the process.
As for Nicoletti, the freshman did more than score the game winner Friday, she started the game against Hudson Valley, throwing seven innings yet again for the complete game. The right hander allowed four runs, three of them earn off of nine hits, helping Nicoletti to her 12th win of the season.
Up next for the Generals is #1 Rock Valley. The Golden Eagles defeated St. Cloud 4-1 in the second round to advance. The Golden Eagles had the Generals number last year in the national tournament, beating them twice. Herkimer will look to change that with their current win streak at 33 games. Game time on Friday (5/15) is 8 p.m. EST
Game:
Herkimer Generals 5, Hudson Valley Vikings 4
Vikings 021 001 0 – 4 9 3
Generals 020 110 1 – 5 10 2
WP: Dana Nicoletti (12-3) LP: Allison Ford (17-3) 3B: Herkimer 1 (Nicoletti); RBI: Generals 3 (Myslivecek, Lawler, Potter) Vikings 4 (Urbich, Rossi, McDonnell, Martell); Records: Herkimer 12-0, 37-7 Hudson Valley 10-2, 21-4
-Giorgio Varlaro