It took nine innings, but the Judson University softball team came away a winner Thursday in the opening round of the National Christian College Athletic Association's national tournament in Botetourt, Va.
Bri DiGiola doubled, was sacrificed to third by Allison Catlett and scored on a single by Amber Mysliwiec in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Eagles defeated Indiana Wesleyan 1-0.
Judson (38-17) will try to add to its program record for wins in a season at 11 a.m. Friday when the fourth-seeded Eagles take on No. 1 seed Shorter University (44-9) of Rome, Ga.
Senior Sarah Boyer of McHenry picked up the win for the Eagles, going the complete game and allowing just 5 hits with 8 strikeouts and 1 walk.
"Sarah pitched really well and we finally executed in the ninth," said Judson coach Becky Pearl. "We tried to bunt a couple times earlier and didn't execute but this one was old-school — get her on, bunt her over, drive her in.
"We were hitting the ball really well, but everything was just hanging up in the air."
