BOX SCORE 1 / BOX SCORE 2 / BOX SCORE 3

OWENSBORO, Ky. – Point Park University softball went 2-1 to keep its championship hopes alive Friday in Owensboro, Ky. After a 6-4 upset in the first round by #6 Asbury (Ky.) University, Point Park defeated #7 Cincinnati Christian University, 10-8, and #5 WVU Tech, 8-3, in the loser's bracket.

Game 1

The #3 Pioneers (22-18, 14-4 KIAC) lost a 6-4 upset to #6 Asbury (Ky.) (18-28, 7-9 KIAC) in the opening round.

Freshman pitcher Ashley Iagnemma (FR/Bridgeville, Pa) (9-9) got out of a bases-loaded jam with her third strike out in the top of the second to keep the score tied, 2-2.

Point Park was leading the Eagles 4-2 at the end of the second inning, but Asbury scored four runs on four hits, including two doubles and a single to tie the score, 4-4. The Eagles took the lead with a two-run single by Tisha Lane, making the score 6-4.

A heads-up play by Point Park sophomore Kim Corcoran (SO/Cheswick, Pa) in the top of the fifth got a runner out at home to keep the score 6-4 and gave the Pioneers a chance to come back.

Asbury pitcher Summer Rattliff had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the fifth, but managed to keep Point Park from putting any runs on the board.

In the top of the seventh, Iagnemma dove to get the final pop-out, giving the Pioneers one last chance to score, but Asbury retired the Point Park batters in order to win the upset, 6-4.

Iagnemma allowed six runs on 10 hits with nine strikeouts and two walks in seven innings.

The Pioneers, heading into the loser's bracket, got little chance for a rest in between games. Point Park faced #7 Cincinnati Christian University shortly after the All-KIAC awards were handed out.

Game 2

The elimination game between Point Park and Cincinnati Christian (10-27, 5-13 KIAC) was back and forth the entire seven innings.

The Pioneers jumped out to an early lead on an inside the park, two-run home run by Brittany Zeigler (FR/McDonald, Pa) to make the score 2-0.

Cincinnati Christian answer in the top of the second, tying the game 2-2.

The Pioneers took a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the second with an RBI single by Zeigler and a two-run double by Corcoran.

The Eagles took the lead, 6-5, in the top of the third, and the Pioneers scored a run in the bottom of the inning to tie the score, 6-6.

Senior pitcher Hannah Harley (SR/Indiana, Pa) (9-7) started the game and pitched three innings for the Pioneers, allowing six runs (five earned) on four hits with four walks and two strikeouts.

Freshman Erica Burns (FR/Carmichaels, Pa) took over in the top of the fourth and held the Eagles scoreless into the seventh inning.

The Pioneers scored four runs on four hits and one error in the bottom of the fourth, putting the Pioneers up 10-6.

Cincinnati Christian hit three singles and a double in the top of the seventh to cut Point Park's lead to 10-8, but the Pioneers held on for the win and sent the Eagles home.

Burns (2-0) got the win on the mound for Point Park, allowing two runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

Game 3

Facing elimination, the Pioneers jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first against WVU Tech (20-29, 9-9 KIAC).

Iagnemma once again took the mound for Point Park, pitching a complete game and tossing a two-hit shutout through four innings.

Point Park led the Golden Bears 7-0 heading into the fifth, but WVU Tech scored three runs in the top of the fifth to cut Point Park's lead to 7-3.

The Pioneers scored an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 8-3, and the Golden Bears would not get another hit in the remaining two innings.

Zeigler went 3-for-4 with an RBI, Jess Beitler went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Taylor Geary (SR/Glassport, Pa) and Chelsea Rogel (FR/New Wilmington, Pa) each went 2-for-4 with an RBI apiece.

Iagnemma struck out eight, walked one and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits in the complete game win.

It will be a Pittsburgh matchup tomorrow between the #3 Pioneers and the #4 Carlow Celtics in the loser's bracket for an 11 a.m. ET start. The winner plays the loser of #1 Rio Grande versus #2 Indiana University Southeast, and the loser gets sent home.

Watch live on Stretch Internet at portal.stretchinternet.com/kiac.

Follow the Pioneers on Twitter @PointParkSports and @PPUSoftball and Facebook.com/PointParkAthletics.