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Merkel Blast, Seneca Grab Help Take Out #4 Ohio Northern
Posted: 5/15/2009
Box Score | More Softball news
Freshman Lauren Seneca came up with this catch to conclude a nerve-wracking finish Friday against ONU.

Montclair, NJ – Take all the drama and nervous energy from Messiah’s four NCAA First Round contests from one week ago, multiply that by 100, and you’ve got a pretty good feel for how things went in Friday afternoon’s NCAA Division III Championships contest against Ohio Northern University.

The Falcons handed the fourth-ranked Polar Bears a 3-1 defeat behind a sixth-inning, two-run blast from freshman Jaclyn Merkel, then withstood a seventh-inning ONU push that culminated with runners on second and third … with no outs retired.

A strikeout from freshman pitching superstar Jessica Rhoads and two incredible catches concluded things in heart-stopping fashion, however, and Messiah (40-4) had secured its 20th-straight win, more importantly staying in the winners bracket of the eight-team, double-elimination Division III World Series.

Messiah moves on to face 25th-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College (40-7) Saturday at 4 p.m. The Gusties handed fifth-ranked University of Texas-Tyler (38-9) a 5-1 defeat in Friday’s World Series opener.

“This was a tight one,” Messiah head coach Amy Weaver said at the post-game press conference. “This team has quite a few (superstitious) wrinkles, and I think we used all of them at some point today. We’re excited to get out of this one with a win. We came in confident, but we knew we’d have to play well. Fortunately, we played just well enough.”

Weaver’s club had the first real chance to score at the Montclair State University Softball Stadium, as sophomore Rebekkah Funk reached base via a bunt single in the bottom of the first, advancing all the way to third following a throwing error by ONU catcher Kimberly Blewett. Funk would be the first of just three stranded Falcons’ base runners on the day, however, following a line out from Merkel and a strikeout from Rhoads.

Messiah finally got on the board in the third inning, after a leadoff single from Lauren Seneca was plated via a single from freshman Abi Buchler, following a sacrifice bunt from freshman Ashley Lehman. That tally would stand up as a lead through four full innings of play, as Rhoads (25-1) gave up just two hits while striking out eight through that period.

Ohio Northern (39-5) entered the game with a .376 team batting average.

In the final three innings, the Polar Bears began to provide proof to the statistic.

ONU tied the game in the fifth inning thanks to two singles, using a leadoff rip from freshman second baseman Jackie Magnola and a one-out, RBI knock down the right field line from junior pitcher Cortney Cash. Rhoads was able to get out of the inning by forcing the Polar Bears’ Amanda Fought to foul off to junior catcher Abby Bergakker, but the game had been tied.

It would only be temporary.

After the teams traded scoreless stanzas, Messiah got the pop it needed in the bottom of the sixth. Buchler drew a walk from Cash (28-3), while junior pinch runner Rebecca Stackhouse was pushed to second off a sacrifice bunt from Funk.

Merkel then stepped to the plate.

Her seventh homer of the season was a low liner to the left-centerfield gap.

“I felt like I got all of the ball, I just didn’t know if it was going to make it out or not,” the MAC Commonwealth Conference Rookie of the Year said in the post-game press conference. “I just dropped the bat and started running.”

Merkel’s sprint became slowed after realizing the ball had cleared the eight-foot fence, as a raucous crowd of Messiah faithful erupted.

Rhoads kept the party going with an ensuing single to left field, but a fielder’s choice and a strikeout got the Polar Bears out of the inning with no additional damage.

With Rhoads in the pitching circle, Messiah needed just three outs to claim its D-III World Series’ opening win.

It would be a bit more unnerving than usual.

ONU led off the inning with a single through the right side, only to follow with a double. The Polar Bears’ Katie Cretin hit a looping shot to right field, while junior Tori Hatt was unable to make a diving catch.

Like that, Ohio Northern had the game-tying run at second base, and another at third.

Weaver went out to speak to Rhoads, bringing the entire infield in as well.

“Those talks are always encouraging,” Rhoads said. “All the girls tell me that we’ll be alright, we’ll get out of it. What was going through my mind, though? Let’s get this done. It was a rough place to be.”

Rhoads was able to get Cash to strikeout following the team caucus – the ONU pitcher’s only non-hit at-bat of the day – but needed a pair of web gems to finish the game off. The Polar Bears’ Fought pulled a hard ball into foul territory, a catch that Merkel made while sprinting toward the stadium wall.

The runners held.

With ONU’s Liz Decima representing the go-ahead run at the plate, Seneca would make arguably the greatest catch of her young career. As Decima hit a lazy blooper toward Merkel in left field, it looked like it would drop, easily scoring two runs.

Somehow, the Falcons’ shortstop came up with it.

Sprinting toward Merkel, Seneca backhanded the ball with her outstretched glove, needing a good 20 feet to come to a halt after making the play. As Merkel charged Seneca for an embrace, the rest of Messiah’s roster did the same.

Junior Lindsay Hall was seen kissing Seneca’s glove just before the teams went through the handshake line.

“We approached this game the exact same way as we’ve approached each game this season, and that’s to focus on what we do well,” Weaver said. “We knew ONU was a very, very good team, but at this point, all the teams here are very, very good. It’s a big deal to get this first game. Mentally, from the standpoint of knowing you can win here, it’s big.”

Rhoads agreed.

“I think we were pretty loose coming into the game,” she said. “We know we’re here. But we have to make our way to the national championship game, and that’s not easy. We’re here, but there’s still work to be done.”

With the win, Messiah broke the single-season program record for wins, bettering the 1999 season’s 39-9 mark. The Falcons will now face Gustavus Adolphus – out of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Conference – Saturday at 4 p.m.

All 2009 NCAA Division III Softball Championships games are taking place on the campus of Montclair State University at the Montclair State University Softball Stadium. Fans can follow all the action from the eight-team, double-elimination tournament at the official website of the 2009 NCAA Division III Softball Championship. Live Stats and Live Video Casts are also available.