Little Falls, NJ (5/13/06) – Senior Laura Mushinski drove in both runs, including a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the seventh as second-seeded College MIsericordia edged fourth-seeded Kean University, 2-1, to complete a two-game sweep on the first day of the 2006 ECAC Division III South Softball Championship at the MSU Softball Stadium on Saturday.

The Cougars (32-14) are one win away from capturing the championship and will play on Sunday at Noon for the crown against either top-seeded Montclair State or Kean. If necessary, a deciding game will be played at 2:00 pm. Earlier in the day, Kean knocked off six-time defending champion MSU, 4-3 while Misericordia defeated No. 6 seed Richard Stockton, 2-1. Montclair State (30-13) remained alive in the tournament as it eliminated Richard Stockton (23-20), 2-1 in eight innings.

In the final game of the day, Mushinski provided the winning margin as she belted her fifth home run over the centerfield fence ending what was a pitcher's duel between Kean's Kristen Hennings and Misericordia's Kristi Devens. Devens picked up the win as she improved to 21-8 on the year striking out four and walking one while giving up just four hits. Hennings allowed five hits and fanned five as she fell to 8-10.

Misericordia took a 1-0 lead in the fourth as Jen Gehman singled, stole second and scored as Mushinski doubled to left field. Kean would get the run back in the top of the fifth. Maryelise Gierke singled and moved to second on a base hit. Gierke would go to third on a walk and scored as Johanna Hedler drove a base hit to center.

Misericordia knocked off Richard Stockton in Game Two by the indentical margin. Devens struck out eight, walked one and scattered seven hits. Lindsay Miller doubled to left and went to third as the throw coming in clipped the base umpire. Gehman then stroked and RBI single to center for a 1-0 lead. The Cougars extended the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Kirsten Lazorka doubled home Kerri Buckman, who singled with one out.  

Richard Stockton would cut the lead in the seventh as pinch-hitter Cara Floyd singled with two out to bring the Ospreys within 2-1. However, Devens would retire the final hitter to push Misericordia into the winner's bracket.

Kean reached the winner's bracket as it defeated Montclair State for the fifth-consecutive time overall and third time this season, ending the Red Hawks' 16-game winning streak in the ECAC Championship. Gierke (12-9) picked up the victory over Montclair's CAROLYN MCCREA, who fell to 14-7.  

Montclair State took a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI single by Crystal Dahlhaus. Kean would take the lead with three in the top of the fourth as Christina DeCorso singled home one run and Hedler added a two-run single. Kean added a run in the top of the seventh as Jesse Buchanan singled, stole second, went to third on a base hit and scored on a fielder's choice.

The run proved to be big as Montclair State would score twice in the bottom of the inning. ATHANASIA TOTARO doubled home a run with two out to make the score 4-2 and JENNIFER JIMENEZ made it a one-run game with an RBI base hit. However, Gierke was able to strikeout the final batter to end the game.

Montclair State would eliminate Richard Stockton as Totaro allowed an unearned run and five hits as she improved to 14-6 on the season. Totaro struck out five and walked one as she outdueled Jessica Ricciuti , who finished the year at 10-10. Ricciuti struck out seven and walked one, giving up two runs (one earned) and eight hits.

The Ospreys would push across a run in the top of the fourth as Tara Barker delivered and RBI single to score Sara Henry, who reached on an error to lead off the inning. Montclair State came right back in its half of the inning as Jimenez tripled to start the frame and scored on JACKIE FERRANTI's sacrifice fly.

The game then moved into the eight-inning tiebreaker where Montclair would get out of the inning without allowing a run. In its half, the Red Hawks would end the game as Ferranti singled through the left side scoring pinch-runner ASHLEY LUSTENBERGER with the game-winning run.