For Immediate Release

May 18, 2012

Courtesy of the Southern Connecticut Athletics Communications Staff

Louisville, Ky. – For the second day in a row, the Southern Connecticut State University softball team rallied from a late inning deficit only to see its opponent to put together a late surge of its own. The Owls were defeated by Valdosta State and as a result their season comes to a close.

An RBI single by Julie Muscarella tied Friday's contest with No. 1 nationally ranked Valdosta State at 3-3 in the sixth inning. The Blazers, however, scored three times in the bottom of the frame to secure a 6-3 win over the Owls.

The finest season in So. Connecticut history concluded at 43-13.

The Owls scored twice in the top of the first inning. Brittany Bucko, pictured , singled to open the frame. Nicole Buch, Kristin Whitley and Alyssa Downs all followed with walks, the last of which plated Bucko for the game's first run.

Kate Hoffman then lofted a sacrifice fly to score Buch to make it 2-0.

Owls' pitcher Jayme Larson kept the potent Blazers offense scoreless into the fifth.  Valdosta State scored three times in the bottom half of the fifth inning on three hits and three walks to take a 3-2 lead.

So. Connecticut assembled another rally to tie the game in its next at-bat. Downs was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Jessica Rosa walked to put two runners on before Muscarella connected for a single to left center that evened the contest.

Valdosta State came right back though. A walk and a double put two runners on before Morgan Johnson homered to left center field for a 6-3 cushion.