AMHERST, MASS. – Emily Albin allowed three hits and one run over five and a third innings and Katie Bradford and Sara Stocklinski each drove in runs as fourth-seeded Keene State College of New Hampshire defeated top-seeded Cortland, 2-1, during Day 2 of the NCAA Div. III softball regional at Amherst College.

Cortland (39-9) now needs to win five games out of the loser’s bracket to win the regional title and earn a return trip to the Div. III World Series. The Red Dragons will face the University of New England (Maine) Saturday at noon. If victorious, Cortland would face a potential three-game day Sunday and another game Monday.

Sophomore Meaghan Kohler (Franklin, NJ/Warren Hills Regional) provided Cortland’s lone run with a deep solo homer to left field in the top of the sixth inning that created the final margin. Kohler leads Cortland this spring with 17 home runs and 67 runs batted in.

Senior Abby Martin (Oswego) started for the Red Dragons and lost despite allowing only five hits and two walks in five innings. She gave up both Keene State runs and struck out five. Senior Morgan Kuhn (Wayland/Wayland-Cohocton) retired the side in order in the sixth with two strikeouts.

Albin improved to 13-4 with the victory. Samantha Pratt entered in the sixth inning following Kohler’s homer and a Kayla Lynch (Albany/Colonie) double. She earned her seventh save by retiring all five batters she faced.

Keene State leadoff hitter Haley Chandler started both of the Owls’ rallies. She walked to start the third inning, stole second and scored on Bradford’s single to right. In the bottom of the fifth, Chandler led off with an infield single, stole second, went to third on a groundout and scored on Stocklinski’s sacrifice fly to right.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the fifth, Cortland loaded the bases but was unable to score. Cassie Kardias (Shrub Oak/Lakeland) led off with a walk. Following a foul out and a fielder’s choice forceout, Nicole Gallo (Mount Sinai) was hit by a pitch with two outs and Lucia Meola (Liverpool/Cicero-North Syracuse) walked. Albin induced a foul pop-up to end the inning.

Saturday’s schedule will begin with second-seeded Plattsburgh and third-seeded Amherst playing at 10 a.m. in a winner’s bracket game that was originally scheduled for Friday. Cortland’s game vs. the University of New England is at noon, followed by another elimination game at 2 p.m. and Keene State against either Amherst or Plattsburgh the winner’s bracket final at 4 p.m.

Box Score

Tournament Page