KITCHENER, Ont. – The Durham College women's softball team has picked up wins when they mattered most as the Lords won six straight to clinch a spot in the OCAA championship this upcoming weekend.
 
After a sweep of St. Clair at home on Friday the Lords needed just one more win to lock up a spot in the two-day event hosted in Kitchener by the Conestoga Condors, who the Lords beat 4-3 on Monday night to claim their spot.
 
It almost took a second game as the Condors had two on with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Samantha MacPherson-Rossi hit into a double play to end the game and allow the Lords to clinch.
 
Durham College athlete of the week Ashley Black (Waterloo, Ont.) continued to rack up the wins on the mound, as she won her fourth game in under a week for the Lords.
 
She allowed only two earned runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out two in the complete game victory. 
 
At the plate Rebecca Ropp (Milverton, Ont.) was a perfect 3-for-3 with a walk, RBI and a run scored for the Lords, while Sabrina Salteri (Vaughan, Ont.) was 2-for-4 with an RBI and run.
 
Jensen Chapman pitched the complete game for the Condors, allowing two earned runs on nine hits and a walk. She struck out five Lords in the loss.
 
In the second game the Lords defeated the Condors 8-2 with Sara Pesonen (Mississauga, Ont.) throwing the complete game five-hitter. She allowed only two earned runs, while striking out five.
 
Chapman went 5.1 innings, giving up four earned runs on four hits and four walks. Mary Kate Allen allowed two earned runs over 1.2 innings on four hits and a walk.
 
Ropp was hot at the plate again, going 1-for-2 with two walks, an RBI and three runs, while Samantha MacCallum (Whitby, Ont.) was 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Megan McDonald (Brampton, Ont.) was 1-for-2 with two RBIs.
 
Brittany Bell led Conestoga at the plate going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
 
The Lords will now head to St. Clair on Tuesday to wrap up their OCAA regular season as they prepare for the OCAA women's softball championship presented by belairdirect Oct. 21-22 in Kitchener.  
 
With the remaining league games to be played the lowest the Lords will finish is third place, but only four points separate the first place Lords from the Saints. Durham could finish in first with a sweep of the Saints, pending the results of the Fanshawe Falcons and Mohawk Mountaineers doubleheader.
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE LORDS
Overall Record: 20-10
Conference Record: 15-7
 
Next game: Tuesday, Oct. 18 @ St. Clair Saints (Windsor, Ont. – 4/6 p.m.)