Facing a four run deficit In a showdown of the top two seeds in finals of the 2016 NJCAA DIII Softball Championship Saturday, No. 1 Rock Valley (Ill.) rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning to score five runs and defeat Herkimer (N.Y.) 5-4 to secure the program’s third consecutive national title.

Neither team managed to push any runners across the plate throughout the first five innings as both starting pitchers kept the opposition in check. Casey Boltersdorf of Herkimer and Olivia Fluehr of Rock Valley were both dominant in the circle. The two pitchers allowed just four combined hits and forced 19 ground outs, forcing a 0-0 stalemate through five frames.

Herkimer’s offense came alive in the top of the sixth when Dana Nicoletti doubled with one out. After a Taylor Daniels walk, Arainna Brone drove in the first run of the game with a single that scored Nicoletti. Molly McGuire then drew a walk to load the bases for Sydney Cimini who drove in three runs on a double to give the Generals a 4-0 lead.

The Golden Eagles never trailed at the national tournament until the title game, defeating their first three opponents by a combined score of 23-3, and were eager to prevent Herkimer from spoiling their chance at another championship.

Back-to-back singles by Fluehr and Abby Kissack set the tone for the bottom of the sixth for Rock Valley. After a Herkimer error loaded the bases, Hanna Long’s patience at the plate drew a walk and scored the first run of the game for the Golden Eagles.

Rock Valley pushed two more runs on the board via a Jazmyne Sherwood single followed by a Kedalynn Rockey fielder’s choice. Still trailing 4-3 with two outs, Taylor Carlson delivered a two-RBI double to give the Golden Eagles a 5-4 lead.

Fluehr closed out the game by inducing two quick ground out followed by a fly out to left field off the bat of Daniels to seal the national title for Rock Valley.

Entering the tournament as the proverbial favorites, Rock Valley shutout its first two opponents – No. 8 Suffolk County (N.Y.) 9-0 and No. 5 Onondaga (N.Y.) 7-0 on Thursday. The Golden Eagles qualified for the finals with a 7-3 defeat of Herkimer in Friday’s semifinals.

Rock Valley joins Monroe CC (N.Y.) – 2006-07-08 – as the lone programs to win three-straight DIII softball national championships.

Awards
 

	Morgan Adolph   NJCAA DIII National Pitcher of the Year All-conference (1st team) All-region NJCAA All-Tournament Team NJCAA All-American NFCA All-American
	Olivia Fluehr   NJCAA DIII National Tournament MVP NJCAA DIII National Tournament Pitcher of the Tournament All-conference (1st team) N4C conference MVP All-region NJCAA All-Tournament Team Region IV All-Tournament Team
	Summer Amman   All-conference (2nd team) All-region NFCA All-American Region IV All-Tournament Team
	Abby Kissack   All-conference (1st team) All-region NJCAA All-Tournament Team NJCAA All-American NFCA All-American
	Taylor Carlson   All-conference (2nd team) All-region NJCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Offensive Player NJCAA Tournament All-Tournament Team Region IV All-Tournament Team
	Dakota Watson   All-region Region IV All-Tournament Team
	MiKayla Seay   All-conference (2nd team) All-region Region IV All-Tournament Team NJCAA All-Tournament Team
	Jazmyne Sherwood   All-region
	Darin Monroe   N4C Coach of the Year Region IV Coach of the Year NJCAA Coach of the Tournament

Season Leaders
 

Batting Average	Dakota Watson, .450
Home Runs	Olivia Fluehr, 13
RBI	Olivia Fluehr, 75
Runs	Olivia Fluehr, 60
Stolen Bases	Jessica Tyrell, 9
Wins	Morgan Adolph, 25
ERA	Morgan Adolph, 1.74
Strikeouts	Morgan Adolph, 206