Samantha Emert tossed a four-hit shutout and the Bearcat defense came through at the right time as Saint Vincent defeated Thomas More by a score of 1-0 in the opening game of the Presidents' Athletic Conference softball tournament, hosted by Westminster College. SVC then fell to Bethany College, 5-1 in extra innings, in the final game of the day.

In Game A of the tournament, SVC threatened in the second inning, as Emily Duerr singled to lead off, moved to second on a bunt by Kelsey Hunter and then moved to third on a wild pitch.  However, the Bearcats were unable to push a run across.

In the bottom of the second, Thomas More appeared to score on a fly ball down the left field line.  SVC's Mackenzie Gostomski made a diving attempt at the ball but was unable to make the play, and the runner at third crossed the plate.  However, the umpire ruled the ball to be foul and returned the runner to third, keeping the game scoreless.

The next inning, Gostomski reached on an infield single with one out.  Sarah Swettlen then followed with an infield single, but the Thomas More shortstop's attempted throw to first was off the mark, allowing Gostomski to move to third.  Courtney Patterson then followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Gostomski with what would prove to be the game-winning run.

The Saints threatened in the fourth, after a leadoff double and an error put runners at the corners with no outs.  After a popout, Emert then got the TMC batter to ground into an inning-ending double play.

The Bearcat defense ended a potential Thomas More rally in the fifth, when a one-out line drive to Shelby Noel at first base turned into a double play as she beat the baserunner back to the bag for an unassisted double play.  Emert did the rest, setting the Saints down in order in the final two innings to preserve the victory.

The win was the 25th of the season for Saint Vincent, a new school record for a single year.

After Bethany defeated host Westminster in Game B of the tournament, Westminster was then eliminated by Thomas More in Game C.
 
The Bearcats squared off against Bethany in Game D, and the Bison were looking for a quick start against Emert, loading the bases with no outs in the top of the first.  Emert was able to induce a ground ball to Patterson that forced a runner out at home, then followed with a strikeout and another ground out to end the inning with no damage.
 
In the top of the fourth, the Bison got a leadoff double off the fence in right field from Ashley Marigon, who then moved to third on a flyout.  Emert then struck out the next two batters to again end the threat.
 
 Emert and Bethany's Cassie Weiss remained locked in a pitchers' duel the rest of the way, with the Bearcats managing just three hits and Bethany four through the scheduled 7 innings.  With the game tied 0-0, the teams headed to extra innings.
 
In the top of the 8th, the Bison got runners at first and second via an infield hit and a single, then a two-out grounder down the first base line took a bad hop, resulting in a single that scored the runner from second, putting the Bison in front 1-0. 
 
In the bottom of the 8th, Kelly Flaherty led off with a single, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Gostomski.  Swettlen then drew a walk.  With two out, Noel stepped up and hit a grounder to short.  The shortstop flipped to second, but Swettlen beat the throw.  Meanwhile, Flaherty never slowed rounding third, catching the defense off guard and scoring to tie the game.  Duerr then singled up the middle, but Swettlen was thrown out at the plate, sending the game to a 9th inning.
 
The Bison then took command of the game, scoring four runs on three hits, taking advantage of a pair of Bearcat errors, to take a 5-1 lead.  Saint Vincent was unable to come back in the bottom of the ninth.

SVC will now face Thomas More College in Game E, which has been moved to a 10AM start on Saturday (May 7).  The winner will advance to play Bethany at 12.