Chapman Loses NCAA Softball Final

For the third consecutive season, Chapman finished second in the NCAA Division III softball championships, falling to St. Mary’s (Minn.) in the final, 5-0, Sunday in Salem, Va.

Chapman ended the season with a 39-11 record.

Tiesha Smith (17-5) pitched a four-hitter for St. Mary’s (40-6) and allowed only two Chapman runners to reach scoring position. St. Mary’s freshman shortstop Jackie Huegel hit a two-out, two-run home run in the first inning off Chapman starter Katie Smithson (4-3) and the Panthers never recovered.

Chapman’s best chance to score came in the seventh when Leslie Prochaska singled with one out, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a Molly Beckett ground out. But Smith got Theresa Cronin to ground out to end the game.

The Panthers advanced to the championship game by beating Alma (Mich.), 3-1, earlier in the day. Prochaska went three for three, including a double, and had two runs batted in for the Panthers.

Dawn Lopez scored two runs and Chrissy Lake had two hits each for Chapman.

Tiffany Hoskins (19-3) went the distance in the game, striking out six and walking none.

Hoskins was one of five Chapman players named to the all-tournament team. Other members of the team included Heather Peters, Amie Barnes, Lopez and Prochaska.