Tufts (Massachusetts) second baseman Gracie Marshall narrowly misses catching a blooper in Friday's game against Montclair St. (New Jersey). (Herb Nygren Jr / Tyler Morning Telegraph)

East Texas Baptist stayed alive and the two highest ranked teams — Tufts (Massachusetts) and Salisbury (Maryland) — stayed unbeaten as the second day of play wrapped up Friday in the NCAA Division III National Softball Championship.

The double-elimination tournament continues today at Suddenlink Field on the UT Tyler campus with two elimination games — St. Thomas (Minnesota) (43-7) vs. Montclair State (New Jersey) (42-7) at 4 p.m. and ETBU (45-9) vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater (38-12) at 6:30 p.m.

Friday’s results included: St. Thomas 9, Rochester (New York) 1; ETBU 11, Trine (Indiana) 3; Salisbury 5, Wisconsin-Whitewater 0; and Tufts 5, Montclair State 2.

Thus, the tournament is down from eight to six teams as Rochester and Trine were eliminated.

No. 1 Tufts and No. 4 Salisbury are both unbeaten and thus receive a day off today.

Salisbury (42-3) will play the winner of the St. Thomas-Montclair State game at noon Sunday.

Defending national champion Tufts (44-3) will play the winner of the ETBU-Wisconsin-Whitewater at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

 

GAME 5

After being shut down on the opening day of the tournament, the Tommies of St. Thomas got things going on the second day.

Brenna Walek’s first-inning grand slam sparked the Tommies en route to a 9-1 win over Rochester.

Walek’s homer, her 17th of the season, followed three one-out singles by Bianca Peterson, Emily Gregory and Erin Mussett.

Gregory was 3 for 3 with two RBIs.

St. Thomas is 6-0 in elimination games in this year’s NCAA postseason play. The Tommies will tie a school record for most games in a season today as they play Game 52 in another elimination situation.

Katie Jo Delisle took the win in the circle with a five-hitter.

 

GAME 6

ETBU kept its hopes of winning another national championship when the Tigers blasted two home runs and Shelby Parker had another stellar effort in the circle.

The Tigers scored an 11-3 triumph over Trine, the visitors from Indiana.

Parker (24-6) finished the game with her 200th strikeout of the season and now holds ETBU’s single-season record for strikeouts, surpassing Alicia Taylor’s 198 strikeouts from 2002.

Jayme Perez and Alyssa Romero each belted home runs to spark the Tigers attack.

Romero has six RBIs in two games.

Romero, Jessica Bowden and Lacey Lindsey each had two hits for ETBU. Romero had three RBIs while Lindsey and Lacy Liles had two RBIs apiece.

Rachel Harris and Amy Newell each belted home runs for the Thunder.

The loss eliminated Trine from the tournament.

 

GAME 7

A second win at the national softball tournament was welcomed by Sea Gulls coach Margie Knight.

Not only is Salisbury undefeated after a 5-0 win over Wisconsin-Whitewater, but also the Sea Gulls get a day off.

“The format for Division III has changed and after being around for a number of years, a day off is really appreciated,” Knight said.

Knight’s squad, behind the pitching of Rachel Johnson and a three-run homer by catcher Rebecca Hoey, improved to 2-0.

Johnson (27-2) limited the WarHawks to five hits while striking out 10 and not issuing a walk.

“Rachel was hitting her spots,” Hoey said. “I have confidence in the entire pitching staff; when I make a call they will throw the pitch.”

Paige Knussman led the way for the Sea Gulls with two doubles, while Hoey had two hits including the homer

Kim Dorsey added a double with Katie Sebbane contributing a single.

Mimi Ramirez paced UWW with a double and a single, while Laura Eichenold had two hits. Amy Ricci added a single.

 

GAME 8

Tufts moved another step closer to a possible repeat with another solid win over Montclair State, a 5-2 victory.

Allyson Fourtnier (25-0) had a stellar effort in the circle, allowing three hits and one earned run while striking out eight.

Cassie Ruscz and Bri Keenan led the Jumbos’ offense with 3-for-4 outings and Jo Clair was 2 for 2 with another homer.

Also, Christina Raso was 2 for 3.

Dana Amato hit a homer for the Red Hawks. Jaclyn Allegretta had an RBI single.

———

NCAA Division III

Softball National Championship

May 22-26

Suddenlink Field, UT Tyler

Thursday, May 22

Game 1: Wisconsin-Whitewater 8, Rochester (New York) 7

Game 2: Salisbury (Maryland) 1, St. Thomas (Minnesota) 0

Game 3: Tufts (Massachusetts) 9, East Texas Baptist 3

Game 4: Montclair State (New Jersey) 3, Trine (Indiana) 1

Friday, May 23

Game 5: St. Thomas 9, Rochester 1, 5 innings, Rochester eliminated

Game 6: East Texas Baptist 11, Trine 3, 5 innings

Game 7: Salisbury (Maryland) 5, Wisconsin-Whitewater 0

Game 8: Tufts 5, Montclair State 2

Saturday, May 24

Game 9: St. Thomas (43-7) vs. Montclair State (42-7), 4 p.m.

Game 10: East Texas Baptist (45-9) vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater (38-12), 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 25

Game 11: Salisbury (42-3) vs. Winner Game 9, noon

Game 12: Tufts (44-3) vs. Winner Game 10, 2:30 p.m.

Game 13: If the winner of Game 9 defeats Salisbury, Game 13 is necessary.

Game 14: If the winner of Game 10 defeats Tufts, Game 14 is necessary.

 

Championship Series

(best-of-three)

Monday, May 26

Game 15: 2 p.m.

Game 16: 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 27

Game 17: 11 a.m.

———

Game 5

St. Thomas (Minnesota) 9,

Rochester (New York) 1,

5 innings

Rochester 000 01 — 1 5 0

St. Thomas 440 01 — 9 11 0

Eleni Wechsler, Brittany Grage (1) and Alyssa Murillo; Katie Jo Delisle and Emily Gregory.

W – Delisle (3-1), L – Wechsler (15-5).

2B — ST: Gregory (11). HR – ST: Brenna Walek (17).

RECORDS — Rochester 32-14, St. Thomas 43-8.

———

Game 6

East Texas Baptist 11,

Trine (Indiana) 3,

5 innings

ETBU 235 01 — 11 9 0

Trine000 03 — 3 5 2

Shelby Parker, Shelby Phillips (5), Parker (5) and Mallory Westbrook; Bree Fuller, Justine Nobles (2), Bre Cooper (3) and Catherine Porter.

W – Parker (24-6), L – Fuller (24-3).

2B – ETB: Lacey Lindsey (11). T: Alicia Eavey (3), Haleigh Daniels (15). HR – ETB: Jayme Perez (12), Alyssa Romero (9). T: Rachel Harris (9), Amy Newell (1).

RECORDS — East Texas Baptist 45-9, Trine 43-6.

———

Game 7

Salisbury (Maryland) 5,

Wisconsin-Whitewater 0

UWW 000 000 0 — 0 5 0

Salisbury104 000x — 5 6 0

Kelynn Sporer, Bekka Houda (3) and Chelsey Schobert. Rachel Johnson and Rebecca Hoey.

W – Johnson (27-2), L – Sporer (18-6).

2B – WW: Mimi Ramirez (7). S: Kim Dorsey (14), Paige Knussman 2 (12). HR – S: Hoey (7).

RECORDS — Wisconsin-Whitewater 38-12, Salisbury 42-3.

———

Game 8

Tufts (Massachusetts) 5,

Montclair State (New Jersey) 2

MSU 000 001 1 — 2 4 0

Tufts200 201x — 5 13 0

Alex Hill and Alisha Cumberton. Allyson Fournier, Lauren Giglio (7), Fournier and Jo Clair.

W – Fournier (25-0), L – Hill (31-5).

2B – T: Bri Keenan. HR – MS: Dana Amato (10). T: Clair (23).

RECORDS — Montclair State 42-7, Tufts 44-3.