NCAA Bracket

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – No. 16 Augustana was shut out for just the third time this season by the Daktronics Pitcher of the Year, Samantha Derr, as it fell to No. 3 Kutztown (Pa.), 4-0 in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Softball National Tournament on Wednesday. Augustana drops to 53-11 while KU improves to 51-5.

Ashley Meyer (27-4) started the game for Augustana and gave up four runs on five hits while striking out five.  KU’s starter, Samantha Derr, improved to 29-3 and used strong defense, including a triple play, behind her to limit Augustana to four hits.

Only one inning produced scoring for KU as they put up four off Meyer in the top of the second.  Derr started the offense for KU with a single up the middle and moved to second on a walk by Maria Isgro.  Left fielder Brianna Knipe then drove a shot over the right-center fence to put KU up 3-0.  The fourth run of the inning was scored by Jackie Hetzler, who doubled and later came home after a ground ball out by Kelly Strittmatter.

Augustana, which leads the nation with 80 home runs, had only extra-base hit  from Chelsi Winskowski, who was 1 for 2 with a double.

Augustana’s biggest threat came in the bottom of the second when Jenelle Trautmann and Lindsay Spanton led off with back-to-back singles, but Kelsey Kalkman lined out to third baseman Kelly Fitzgerald, who put in motion a 4-3-6 triple play.

The Vikings will play the loser of today’s matchup between No. 3 Valdosta State and No. 24 UC-San Diego on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. (CDT) in an elimination game.