JESSE CAREY
Abbey Stalter finishes her career as one of the most prolific defensive outfielders in Division III

Softball

Unplayable Field Conditions Cancel Final; Marywood Finishes AEC Runner-Ups

Hackettstown, N.J. -- Unplayable field conditions ended Marywood University's softball season as Atlantic East Conference runner-ups on Sunday. Per Atlantic East bylaws, the highest-remaining seed prevails to earn the conference title and NCAA Division III automatic qualification after the host institution was unable to prepare a playable field before the 6 p.m. deadline. 

Marywood finishes its season with a 24-16 overall record. 

Overnight rain fell in New Jersey and ended early Sunday morning. The host's home field was caked in mud, and its grounds crew were unable to prepare a playable field. Shortly after 3 p.m., conference officials and umpires invoked the Championship Inclement Weather Plan, and canceled the third and deciding game of the series. Due to Section VIII.E.3 of the Atlantic East Softball Code, "two games played, each with a loss, and the rest of the weekend was a wash, the highest seed is champion."

The third-seeded Pacers advanced to the Atlantic East Conference championship series for the third time in the past four seasons. Marywood upset No. 2 Marymount University last weekend in pod play to qualify for the championship series. The Pacers came back from a 2-1 deficit with 10 runs in the fifth inning, thanks to a Tori Para grand slam. The final day of competition was moved to Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. due to muddy conditions at Marymount's field. 

On Saturday, the Pacers split the opening day of the championship series in New Jersey. After falling 5-4 in the seventh inning of the opening game, Marywood bounced back for a 3-1 victory in the night cap. Sam Ferrara pitched a complete game gem, allowing no earned runs and three hits to secure her ninth victory of the season. Para drove in game-winning RBI with a single in the fifth inning. 

Emma McNally went 2 for 4 with four intentional walks and four RBIs during the championship series. 

Marywood recorded the 15th 20-win season in program history. 
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Players Mentioned

Sammi Ferrara

#21 Sammi Ferrara

P/OF
5' 10"
Sophomore
R-R
Emma McNally

#24 Emma McNally

DP
5' 7"
Junior
L-R
Tori Para

#12 Tori Para

3B/SS
5' 5"
Sophomore
R-R

Players Mentioned

Sammi Ferrara

#21 Sammi Ferrara

5' 10"
Sophomore
R-R
P/OF
Emma McNally

#24 Emma McNally

5' 7"
Junior
L-R
DP
Tori Para

#12 Tori Para

5' 5"
Sophomore
R-R
3B/SS