MARION, Ind. - 4/30/2004 - The 91±¬ÁÏÍø softball team won the 2004 National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Championship on Friday with a 3-0 shutout win over Spring Arbor University. For 91±¬ÁÏÍø, this was their third NCCAA National Softball Championship in the past four years (2001, 2001, and 2004). Also for 91±¬ÁÏÍø, this is the third NCCAA National Championship for 91±¬ÁÏÍø Athletics this season as women's volleyball and men's soccer both brought home the title back in the fall.
Earlier in the day on Friday, 91±¬ÁÏÍø topped Spring Arbor 8-5 in the winner's bracket championship. Leah Gronberg improved to 24-3 with the win. All of 91±¬ÁÏÍø's starters recorded at least one hit in the game, including five players with two hits each.
In a rematch for the title, 91±¬ÁÏÍø again topped Spring Arbor with a 3-0 shutout thrown by sophomore pitcher Mary Kosco. Kosco improves to 18-7 on the year. The only offense of the game came in the bottom of the third inning when Christina Johnson hit a three-run homer to score to drive in Gronberg and Allison Shein.
On Thursday, 91±¬ÁÏÍø defeated Indiana Wesleyan University 5-3 and then topped Bethel College (Ind.) 2-0 to move to the winner's bracket championship on Friday. In the 2-0 win over Bethel, Kosco tossed a no-hitter.
On the season, 91±¬ÁÏÍø improves to 42-10. Up next for 91±¬ÁÏÍø is the TranSouth Conference Tournament to be hosted at 91±¬ÁÏÍø's Fesmire Field. 91±¬ÁÏÍø will enter the conference tournament with the No. 1 seed after winning their sixth straight regular season conference title.
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