Poughkeepsie, NY -- Canisius College earned the league's automatic bid to the 2004 NCAA Division I Softball Championship with two victories over Rider University in the championship round of the 2004 MAAC Softball Championship at the Gartland Athletic Field on the campus of Marist College.
Following a 5-2 win over Fairfield in the elimination game at noon, the Griffs went on to earn a 7-3 victory over Rider in Game 6 of the tournament. The Broncs took a 2-0 lead after the first inning as Brandey Weed scored on a bases-loaded walk and Maddy Boulden crossing home plate on a wild pitch. Rider then took a 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the second with Jamie Cullen reaching home on an RBI single by Courtney Weed. Canisius, however, tied the game in the top of the third (3-3). Pinch runner Mary Burke scored on an error and Beth Enk knocked a two-run RBI to center field. The Griffs sealed the win in the top of the sixth with four more runs.
The Griffs then defeated the Broncs, 5-3, in the seventh and deciding game, scoring three runs in the first. Tempie Coelho-Freeman hit a two-run homer over the left field fence in the fourth inning to give Canisius a 5-0 lead. The Broncs would score one run in the fifth with Amanda Tu scoring after hitting her own double to left center. Nichole Mears then notched a two RBI single in the top of the sixth to make it 5-3. The Broncs threatened in the seventh with the bases loaded and two outs but Canisius' pitcher Lindsay Garbacz secured the victory as she struck out Kristin Kenavan swinging.
Canisius will learn its future opponent in the first round of the NCAA Tournament when the bracket is announced on Sunday, May 16 between 8:30-9:00 p.m. live on ESPNews.
2004 MAAC All-Tournament Team
Infield:
Marina Ysaac, Manhattan
Jamie Farley, Rider
Brandey Weed, Rider
Beth Enk, Canisius
Caitlin Lever, Canisius
Outfield:
Courtney Weed, Rider
Becky Owen, Canisius
Tempie Coelho-Freeman, Canisius
Pitchers:
Heather Beintema, Rider
Andrea Bunten, Canisius
Designated Player:
Kristin Kenavan, Rider
Utility:
Cagney Ringnalda, Fairfield
MVP: Andrea Bunten, Canisius