UALBANY SOFTBALL CAPTURES AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Great Danes Down Stony Brook, 4-0, to Earn Automatic Berth in NCAA Tournament

Stony Brook, N.Y. – Junior right-hander Amanda Morin fired a one-hit shutout to lead top-seeded UAlbany to a 4-0 victory over fourth-seeded Stony Brook in the America East Conference Softball Championship at Stony Brook’s University Field on Saturday, May 14.

UAlbany (35-12) earns the conference’s automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. The softball team is the second UAlbany women’s program to earn a Division I NCAA Tournament bid. The field of 64 will be announced Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNews. The top 16 teams will host four-team regionals on May 20-22.

Morin, who was named the tournament’s most outstanding player, hurled her seventh one-hitter and eighth shutout of the season. The Gansevoort, N.Y. native walked one and struck out seven to improve to 16-2 overall.

"It was nice for the team to come out strong and score some runs," said Morin, whose team had won its second straight America East regular-season title. "It made it easier to pitch with a cushion. We deserve to be in the NCAA Tournament because the whole team played all out all season long."

The Great Danes, who set a program record with 35 wins at the Division I level, gave Morin all the run support she needed with four runs in the first. Amber Maisonet and Kelly Ogden delivered consecutive singles. Maisonet later scored on a throwing error before Ashley Rios smacked a single to plate Ogden. Erika Enocksen added a RBI double to right field and scored on the Seawolves’ second error of the inning.

"This is the next step we have been looking to take for the last couple of years," said UAlbany coach Chris Cannata, whose team made its second appearance in three years in the title game. "The NCAA Tournament is going to be a great experience for the players. They have worked hard all year. We have been focusing on Selection Sunday since day one."

Maisonet, Ogden, Rios and Casey Halloran joined Morin on the all-tournament team.

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#4 Stony Brook (22-36) 000 000 0 - 0 1 4

#1 UAlbany (35-12) 400 000 x - 4 8 1

Stony Brook – Angela Andrews and Rachael Vogl.

UAlbany –Amanda Morin and Ali Meacham.