Judson wins twice at NCCAA nationals
For the first time in program history, the Judson University softball team has posted a win at a national tournament.
And just for the heck of it, the Eagles picked up 2 wins on Thursday.
Playing in the NCCAA National Tournament in Palm Beach, Fla., Judson, seeded No. 7 in the 7-team field. opened the day with a 2-0 win over host and No. 6 seed Palm Beach Atlantic. Then, the Eagles upset the No. 1 seed, Mount Vernon Nazarene, 2-0.
Elgin High graduate Lizzy Jacobson fired the shutout in the opener and Jacobs product Aimee Ewert earned the heart-stopping win against Mount Vernon Nazarene.
The Eagles (22-19), who now stand one win from tying the school record, take on Olivet Nazarene at 3 p.m. today in the semifinals. A Judson win would mean someone would have to beat the Eagles twice on Saturday for the national championship. Judson has lost three times to Olivet this season, twice in CCAC games and once last weekend in the North Central Regional.
"It's very exciting," said Judson coach Becky Bruns. "Ewert and Jake really pitched well today. Jake got called for a bunch of illegal pitches but she held it together."
In the opener, Judson scored twice in the fourth inning. Nicole Dimiceli tripled and scored on a Jacobson single, and Rachel Pope drove in courtesy runner Kristi Roeker with the other run.
Jacobson (9-8) struck out three in gaining the win.
Against Mount Vernon Nazarene, Judson scored twice in the second inning as Kristin Krueger and Carrie Sensor led off with bunt singles before coming home on Dimiceli's 18th double of the season.
Pope drove in an all-important run in the sixth, as Mount Vernon Nazarene came back with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning to make it a 3-2 game.
"Ewert pitched great," said Bruns of the JU senior, who allowed 5 hits and had 5 strikeouts. "They came back and made it 3-2 and we held on."
Ewert improved her record to 10-9 win the win.
"We went in today saying we had to hit the ball, field the ball and be loud," Bruns said. "We did all three and it was a lot of fun. They're pumped and it's fun watching them right now. They're enjoying softball and coming together."