Dartmouth Softball Loses Ivy Title Game to Cornell

Sunday, May 3

Ithaca, N.Y.

12:30 p.m.

Dartmouth College

Cornell

Dartmouth Softball Loses Ivy Title Game to Cornell

5/3/2009 2:00:00 AM | Softball

By: Dartmouth

ITHACA, N.Y. - Despite taking an early one-run lead, the Dartmouth softball team gave up a three-run home run in the fifth inning as Cornell took the lead and went on to defeat the Big Green, 6-1 in the Ivy championship game on Sunday. The title is the Big Red's first since 2004 and the first since divisional play was introduced in 2006.

With their backs against the wall the Big Green looked to get back into the game with two outs in the top of the seventh. With bases loaded a ground out ended the inning and Dartmouth's chances at the NCAA Tournament. Dartmouth ended the season 23-23 while Cornell improves to 42-11.

Nikki Yee (Martinez, Calif.) began the Big Green's day with the first hit of the game with a single over third base. Unfortunately she would stay at first as Dartmouth was unable to get the first run of the game.

Cornell got the hit back with a leadoff single to left center by Aliyson Intihar. The Big Green defense was solid in the bottom of the frame, sitting the next three Big Red batters down in order.

Three up, three down was the order for Dartmouth in the second. Cornell got its first runner on with a walk in the second but a throw out by Leigha Clarkson (Perris, Calif.) to Christy Autin (Harwood Heights, Ill.) got the first out. After an error by Kirsten Costello (Windsor, N.Y.), the Big Red had its second runner on but Dartmouth pitcher Devin Lindsay (Whittier, Calif.) was solid getting Ali Tomlinson to strike out swinging. A ground out to Costello ended the inning as the two remained scoreless after two.

A strikeout by Meghan Everett (Flemington, N.J.) began Dartmouth's half of the third but Autin got it back with a single up the middle. With two outs, Yee hit her second single to left field as runners were at first and second for captain Ashley Gleason (Costa Mesa, Calif.). Unfortunately the ball was hit right to shortstop as Autin was thrown out advancing to third.

Dartmouth's defense sat Cornell down in order the bottom half of the third. A home run by Alyssa Parker (Spring Valley, Calif.) to left field gave the Big Green the first run of the day. Audrey Kolodziej (Morton Grove, Ill.) hoped to get another one with a two-out single to short but would stay there after a strikeout ended the frame.

Meg Risica began the bottom of the fourth with a two-out single down the left field line before tying the game on a Jessy Berkey single. Lindsay stopped Cornell's momentum with a strikeout to Tomlinson to end the home team's threat.

Dartmouth went down in order in the next frame as the Big Red came back with a runner on with one out in the bottom half of the inning. With her second single of the day, Intihar put two on for Cassie Walisiak. Walisiak helped Lindsay get her third strikeout of the game as Cornell was down to its last batter. Elise Menaker made the at-bat worth while with a three-run shot over the right field fence as the Big Red was suddenly ahead, 4-1.

The sixth inning had the Big Green unable to get a baserunner as the Cornell defense was on its game. Risica added another run to the Big Red's tally with a leadoff home run to left field to began the Cornell sixth. Tomlinson added another homer to the Big Red's total as Lindsay was knocked out of the game. Hillary Barker (Duvall, Wash.) came on in relief and struck out the first batter she faced before getting the second batter to ground out.

With the fans on their feet, Cornell's Elizabeth Dalrymple got the first two Big Green batters to ground out to begin the seventh inning but the Big Green stayed alive. Kat Hicks (Templeton, Calif.) came in to pinch hit and immediately hit the ball to center field. Autin put batters at first and second with her second hit of the day as the Big Green threatened late. Costello walked to load the bases but a fielders choice groundout ended Dartmouth's chances as Cornell became the Ivy champs.

Yee and Autin both had two hits for the Big Green. Lindsay struck out four as she fell to 9-8 on the season. For Cornell, Intihar and Risica both had two hits while Dalrymple went the complete game with five strikeouts and improved to 19-3.