SALEM – Behind the bat of Kelly Higbie, Roanoke advances to play again in the 2012 NCAA DIII Softball Championship after defeating #6 ranked Luther College, 2-0 on Sunday.
 
The Maroons advance to play in the 7:30 PM game Sunday evening as they face off against #3 ranked Linfield College (44-6).  Linfield lost to Pacific Lutheran on Saturday afternoon, then defeated Tufts in an elimination game on Sunday afternoon.  Luther College exits the NCAA DIII Softball Championship with a record of 41-9.

Tonight's win against Luther was the 500th program win for Roanoke College softball.  Since the program began in 1997, the Maroons have put together an impressive 10 30-win seasons and five 35-win seasons.  With winning 500 games in 16 seasons, Roanoke softball averages just over 31 wins a season.  Earlier in 2012, the team also celebrated the milestone of Head Coach Mike Mitchell's 100th victory at Roanoke College.  

Roanoke now holds a 2-2 record against teams from Iowa.  This contest was the first meeting between the two teams, where the Maroons now hold a 1-0 series record.The two wins this Roanoke squad has earned in the NCAA Championships are the most by any Roanoke softball team that have reached the championships.
 
The Maroons had been held hitless until the bottom of the third inning, when Kelly Higbie doubled to right center field.  However, Luther's pitcher Becca Girvan was able to shut down the rest of the side.  After three, Roanoke and Luther was tied at 0-0.
 
The Maroons finally hit their stride in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Alea Bier was walked as the lead off batter.  Hollee Warlitner laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing Bier to second.  Stephanie Clark reached base after being hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second.  Caitlin Manuel hit one in the infield and reached base on a throwing error.  Kelly Higbie, who already hit a double in the game, hit a two RBI single to score Bier and Clark.  For the first time in the game, Roanoke took the lead with the 2-0 score.
 
Roanoke wasn't in the clear after fourth though, as Luther put two runners on base in each the fifth and sixth innings.  But, the Maroons defense kept the Norse from scoring in either occasion.  In the top of the seventh, Luther's Paige Comentino singled with one out.  The next to batters couldn't provide help, as they fouled and grounded out respectively, giving the Maroons the 2-0 victory.

 
Higbie earned her 36^th complete game of the season and won her 30^th game.  She becomes the third pitcher in the NCAA this season to win 30 games.  On the offensive end, Higbie was 3-for-3 with two RBIs.  Warlitner went 1-for-2, with a double over the bag at first base.
 
Luther finished with seven hits, with Abby Christian and Comentino each going 3-for-3.  Girvan gave up two runs off four hits and struck out six.
 

Click HERE to view highlights of the game.

For more information on the NCAA Division III Softball Championship, click here.
 
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