Kathryn Bumila of Raynham, MA Member of WPI Softball Team Headed to NCAA Division III Super Regional

2015 May 13

Kathryn Bumila is a member of the 2015 WPI softball team that will participate in its first NCAA Division III Super Regional on Thursday. The Engineers will face unbeaten and top-ranked Tufts in a best-of-three series beginning at 4 p.m. Game two will be Friday at 1 p.m. with the if necessary game to follow.

Williamstown Regional Final Recap

Regional Most Outstanding Player Nina Murphy-Cook (Roseville, CA) registered three hits and scored twice, Katie Bumila (Raynham, MA) drove in three and Clare Doolin (Newton, MA) tossed five shutout innings as WPI blanked host Williams 4-0 to claim the NCAA Division III Williamstown Softball Regional on Sunday afternoon.

Joining Murphy-Cook on the All-Regional team were teammates Doolin, Ama Biney, and Kelsey Saucier.

WPI, who was making its first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history, improves to 34-9 and will face two-time defending national champions Tufts in a best-of-three, Super Regional next weekend. Williams, who needed to win twice Sunday to advance, closes its 2015 campaign with a 32-9 record.

Murphy-Cook led off the game with a bunt single to third and after a fly out, stole her Division III-leading 53rd stolen base. Following another fly out to center, Bumila scorched a double to the right center gap to chase home Murphy-Cook with the game's first run.

The Engineers added to their advantage in the third as Hope Shevchuk (Burlington, CT) legged out a one-out single deep in the hole at short. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, pinch runner Julia Ring (Leominster, MA) entered and came plateward one batter later on a Kelsey Saucier (Worcester, MA) single to left.

WPI used the top of its lineup to put the game out of hand in the fourth. Murphy-Cook was again in the middle of things, leading off with a single to center and promptly stealing second. Ama Biney (Worcester, MA) reached on an error and the pair moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Kristin Gallagher (Coventry, RI) and were knocked home on a two-run single up the middle by Bumila for her second and third RBI of the game.

Doolin responded with her first 1-2-3 inning of the game and Caroline Medino (Pompton Lakes, NJ) allowed just one base runner over the final two innings as the Engineers set a date with the top-ranked and undefeated Jumbos.

Doolin allowed just two hits and two walks in her innings while improving to 17-3. She did not allow a run in 12 innings of work in the tournament. Battery mate Lindsay Gurska (Revere, MA) gave Doolin a spark to ended the third, gunning a would-be base stealer to end the frame.

Alison Michalik (Naperville, IL) and Kacey Cramer (Houston, TX) registered the two hits for the Ephs, who only had a player reach third base in the opening inning. Pitcher Emma Harrington (Columbus, OH) pitched well for the hosts, allowing just two earned runs while going the distance.

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1865 in Worcester, Mass., WPI is one of the nation's first engineering and technology universities. Its 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts, leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. WPI's talented faculty work with students on interdisciplinary research that seeks solutions to important and socially relevant problems in fields as diverse as the life sciences and bioengineering, energy, information security, materials processing, and robotics. Students also have the opportunity to make a difference to communities and organizations around the world through the university's innovative Global Perspective Program. There are more than 40 WPI project centers throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.