St. Mary of the Woods College Takes Two on Final Day for USCAA Softball Championship

DUBOIS, Pa. – Fifth-seeded Saint Mary of the Woods College withstood a late rally from top-seeded Cleary University in the deciding championship game as the Pomeroys defeated the Cougars 4-3 to win the 2019 United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Championship on Thursday.

The championship was the fourth in the last five years for the Pomeroys after winning in 2015, 2016, 2017 and losing to Cleary in the finals in 2018.

Saint Mary of the Woods forced the winner-take-all game with a 5-2 victory in game one behind a 2-for-3 performance from Hollie Jones and a complete game win by Tournament MVP Katelyn Kennedy.

In the final game, the Pomeroys got on the board first with a run in the second as Kennedy singled and went to third on a double by Ariel Spivey.  After an infield out, Nicole Niespodziany hit a foul out to bring in Kennedy for a 1-0 lead.

Cleary scratched a run in the top of the fourth with two outs as Jordan Schneider doubled to left center.  Rachel McDaniels pinch-ran for Schneider and scored on a single to left center by Liz Stockert to even the game at 1-1.

The Pomeroys scratched a run in the fifth as Taylor Andrew walked and was replaced by pinch-runner Mallory Clarkson.  One out later Hollie Jones singled to put runners at first and second before a two-out double by Hailey Miller to push the lead to 3-1.

Saint Mary of the Woods scored once in the bottom of the sixth as Spivey walked and went to third as Kindra Gingerich laid down a sacrifice bunt and advanced to second on an errant throw.  Niespodziany singled in Spivey to give them a 4-1 lead.

The Cougars, who entered the top-seed and defending champions, rallied in the bottom of the seventh with two runs as Jordan Schneider singled to right and was replaced by pinch-runner Megan Robinette.  After one out, Hannah Benner doubled to right field to put runners at second and third.  With two outs, pinch-hitter Susie Bielecki singled up the middle to score both for a 4-3 advantage.  Kennedy followed by forcing a fly out to end the game.

Miller and Niespodziany drove in a pair of runs each for Saint Mary of the Woods as Kennedy threw her second complete game of the day striking out four.

2019 USCAA All-Tournament Team

Tournament MVP – Katelyn Kennedy (P), Saint Mary of the Woods