DeLand, Fla. ? Senior catcher Blythe Golden (Marianna, Fla.) had two hits, including a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning, and sophomore pitcher Amanda Lindsey (Byhalia, Miss.) tossed a dominating one-hit shutout to lead the Stetson softball team (43-23) to a 1-0 win over Mercer in the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament Friday at Patricia Wilson Field. The Hatters advance to play Campbell at 5 p.m. tomorrow in the A-Sun Finals. Stetson must win twice or the Camels take the crown and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Sophomore center fielder Amy Joyce (Lake Mary, Fla.) and senior second baseman Nicole Forbes (Tampa, Fla.) delivered back-to-back singles to lead off the bottom of the eighth against Mercer lefty Jenni Holtz. A passed ball moved both runners into scoring position and with one out senior third baseman Lindsay Wightman (Surrey, B.C.) was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Golden stepped to the plate and worked the count to 1-2 before reaching to the outside half of the plate and poking a pitch up the middle into center field for the game-winning hit. She raised both arms in celebration as she ran down to first base, met there by a mob of her delighted teammates. Mercer was eliminated with the loss.
Golden singled in her last two at-bats while junior left fielder Amanda Bailey (Destin, Fla.) and Forbes also contributed two base hits each to the Hatter cause. Forbes stole two bases, her ninth and 10th of the season, while freshman pinch runners Katelyn Perna (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and Jesse Tucker (DeFuniak Springs, Fla.) also stole bases.
Lindsey was almost untouchable the whole game, surrendering just four walks along with a lone single to third baseman Ashley Anderson in the fourth inning. She tallied seven strikeouts. Holtz did everything she could to keep her Bears alive, striking out nine Hatters in 7 1/3 innings. She allowed eight hits and one walk.
Stetson had a chance to win the game in regulation when singles by Golden and Lindsey put runners on second and third with two out. Senior right fielder Amy Peters (Niceville, Fla.) slapped the ball back up the middle and appeared to have won the game; however Holtz deflected the ball to shortstop Amanda Santa Maria, who was able to make the throw to first in time to get Peters and end the inning.
Campbell, which is undefeated in the A-Sun Tournament, advanced to the finals with a 5-2 win over ETSU in the late game Friday. The Camels have been riding the right arm of sophomore Brittany Stanley as well as several hot bats; Campbell has bashed four home runs in its wins over Stetson and ETSU (twice).
Jamie Bataille will broadcast the championship game(s) live on A-Sun.TV with live stats available through www.gohatters.com. Stetson will be shooting for its second consecutive A-Sun championship and NCAA Tournament berth while Campbell will be looking for its first A-Sun title and first NCAA appearance since 1995.
