In the first game of the day against third-seeded Mid-Continent, the top-seeded Lady Cougars (20-17) broke a scoreless tie with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning after being held hitless until that inning. Freshman second baseman Kristin Kurelic opened the inning with a single, stole second, and moved to third when sophomore outfielder Leslie Banichar reached on an error. With two outs and runners at second and third after Banichar stole second, sophomore outfielder Lauretta Wallace (left) drove in two runs with a single to centerfield to put MVNU on top 2-0.

The Lady Cougars tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Wallace tripled down the rightfield line to lead off the inning. One out later, she came around to score on junior third baseman Karly Clay’s ground out to second base to extend the lead to 3-0.

Mid-Continent avoided being shut out in the top of the seventh inning when with two out Jamie Speake singled and then came around to score on a double to centerfield by Amber Rapert to make the final score 3-1.

Senior right-hander Kristin Eyerman (10-5) earned the victory for the Lady Cougars as she scattered seven hits and one run over seven innings with five strikeouts and no walks.

Meagan Lack took the loss for Mid-Continent despite allowing just six hits, one walk, and three runs (only one earned) over six innings with two strikeouts.

Wallace and Kurelic both went 2-for-3 at the plate to pace the MVNU offense with Wallace registering two RBI. Meanwhile, Rapert and Lack each had two hits for Mid-Continent.

With the win, the Lady Cougars advanced in the loser’s bracket to face sixth-seeded Palm Beach Atlantic (31-23). The host Sailfish took control of the game with two runs in the top of the first inning, added two more runs in the top of the third inning, and posted three more runs in the top of the fourth inning to build a 7-0 lead that would stand up as the final score as MVNU was eliminated from the tournament.

Junior right-hander Candace White (10-11) suffered the loss as she failed to record a complete game for the first time this season in 18 starts. She allowed seven hits, one walk, and four runs (only two earned) in three innings with no strikeouts. Eyerman tossed the final four innings and gave up five hits, one walk, and three runs with one strikeout.

Ashley Jones (16-9) picked up the win for Palm Beach Atlantic as she allowed just four hits while tossing her ninth shutout of the year. She also struck out 10 batters and issued just one walk.

Kurelic (right) collected half of the Lady Cougars’ four hits as she went 2-for-3 and finished with a team-leading .571 batting average in three games at the NCCAA National Tournament. Wallace and sophomore catcher Caitlin Murphy also added one single apiece.

The Sailfish were led by Chelsea Gravini, who went 3-for-4, while Casey Gibson was 3-for-5. Holly Elliott and Cheryl Stephens also added two hits and three RBI apiece.

MVNU will return to action on Monday when the Lady Cougars are scheduled to host Kenyon College in a non-conference doubleheader that will get under way at 4:00 p.m.