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Montclair, NJ – Junior Brittany Wilson entered Saturday's NCAA Montclair Regional Tournament game against sixth-seeded Roger Williams having pitched just 17 innings this season. The righthander upped that count to 24 tossing a three-hit shutout as fourth-seeded DeSales University remained alive with a 1-0 victory.
Freshman Michelle Gessner (Warrington, PA / Central) singled home the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh as the Bulldogs (30-11-1) advanced in the tournament and will face either Kean University of Susquehanna later on Saturday.
Wilson was called upon to make her first start of the season just minutes before the first pitch and extended an amazing run of pitching by the Bulldogs in the tournament. DeSales had allowed just one unearned in 33 innings and has posted two shutouts.
Wilson struck out two and walked one as she improved to 5-1 on the year outdueling freshman righty Meghan Maliga, who fell to 15-10 despite another strong outing. Maliga scattered seven hits, fanned three and walked one in 6 2/3 innings.
Each team had one major opportunity to push a run across. Roger Williams had its chance in the fourth. Chelsea Boulrisse (Bourne, MA / Bourne) led off with a single and went to second on a wild pitch. A walk put runners at first and second but a fielder's choice erased the runner going to third base and a pair of outs later the Bulldogs were out of the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Shelby Wilson (Center Valley, PA / Southern Lehigh) for DeSales singled to open the inning. The Bulldogs would get the runner to second but Maliga induced a grounder to end that threat.
Wilson got things going for DeSales in the seventh leading off with another single and was moved to second on a sacrifice by Wilson. Maliga got a fly out for the second out, but Gessner was able to slap a single through the left side. Running all the way, Wilson was able to beat the throw home giving DeSales the victory.
Wilson finished 3-for-3 for the Bulldogs while Gessner went 2-for-4.
Roger Williams completed its season at 24-20. The Hawks were making their third appearance in the NCAA Tournament having earned an automatic bid by capturing the Commonwealth Coast Conference title.
