ITHACA, N.Y. – The top-seeded Messiah Falcons (38-5) posted an 8-0 five-inning win over the sixth-seeded Keuka Storm (22-4-1) in the NCAA Division III softball regional being held at Ithaca’s Kostrinsky Field. Messiah advances to the championship final and will play at 2:30 p.m. Sunday needing to win one more game to claim the regional title. The Storm will face the winner of Saturday’s final game (between Ithaca and St. John Fisher) Sunday at noon for the right to face Messiah.
Jessica Rhoades threw a two-hit shutout and hit a two-run home run – one of three Messiah hit – to pace the Falcons. Her home run came with two outs in the first and scored the game’s first runs.
In the fifth inning, left fielder Stephanie Schell and Amanda Fife both hit their first home runs of the season; Schell’s led off the inning and Fife pinch-hit a two-run shot to end the game.
Third baseman Ashley Lehman singled twice. She and shortstop Lauren Seneca both scored a pair of runs.
Left fielder Denise Bilbow and catcher Sara James both singled for Keuka’s hits.
