University of Albany Earns Third Seed for America East Conference Softball Tournament - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

UAlbany was tabbed as the third seed for this week’s America East Conference Softball Championship, which will be hosted by top-seeded Stony Brook from May 7-9. The Great Danes, who have won three tournament titles and advanced to the championship game in five of the past six seasons, are making their eighth consecutive conference postseason tournament appearance.

UAlbany (36-14, AE 12-7) will take on No. 2 Boston University (38-16, AE 14-6) in the second game on Thursday, May 7 at 3:30 p.m. Top-seeded Stony Brook (35-12, AE 15-5) will face No. 4 UMBC (34-19, AE 12-8) in the first game, scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. The winners of the first two games will face off on Friday, May 8, starting at 11 a.m., while the losers of Thursday's games will play at 1:30 p.m. in an elimination game. A second team will go home later on Friday when the winner of previous game and the loser of the day's first game meet at 4:00 p.m. The 2009 America East champion will be named on Saturday, May 9. The final two teams standing will play at 12 noon with a second game slated for 2:30 p.m., if necessary. If inclement weather occurs, the champion will be crowned on Sunday, May 10. The winner will earn an automatic berth in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

The Great Danes have been led by junior pitcher Leah McIntosh and senior third baseman Meagan Butsch. McIntosh has hurled a national-best four perfect games this season. She holds Division I program records for career strikeouts (610) and no-hitters (6) while boasting a league-best 1.27 ERA. McIntosh is also first in strikeouts per seven innings (11.02). Butsch is hitting .379 this season and has broken the school records for home runs in a career (29) and a single season (14). She leads the conference in home runs, on-base percentage (.491) and slugging percentage (.780). Sophomore center fielder Kristine Bill is also hitting over .300, while junior pitcher Marissa Powell has won 16 of her last 19 decisions in the circle.

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2009 America East Conference Softball Championship

(played at Stony Brook’s University Field)

Thursday, May 7
Game One: #1 Stony Brook (35-12, AE 15-5) vs. #4 UMBC (34-19, AE 12-8), 1 p.m.
Game Two: #2 Boston U. (38-16, AE 14-6) vs. #3 UAlbany (36-14, AE 12-7), 3:30 p.m.

Friday, May 8
Game Three: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 11 a.m.
Game Four: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 1:30 p.m.
Game Five: Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 4 p.m.

Saturday, May 9
Game Six: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 12 p.m.
Game Seven: (if necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 2:30 p.m.