CALGARY – The Durham College women's softball team capped off their appearance at the Canadian Collegiate Softball Association (CCSA) national championship with a 16-9 victory over the hosting University of Calgary Dinos to finish in fifth place overall.

Following the championship, Lords third baseman Katrina Gammie of Guelph received national recognition as she was named a championship all-star. In the four games leading into Monday's game against Calgary, Gammie was 6-for-12 with four runs and three RBI.

This marked Durham's fifth straight appearance at the national championship, and their best showing since 2012 when the club reached the national finals.

In the gold medal game, Western defeated St. Clair 9-1 to win their fourth straight national title. The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) was well represented with all three teams advancing to the final day and finishing in the top five. St. Clair defeated the University of Regina 3-2 in an eight inning semi-final match.

Durham will now turn their attention to the OCAA Championship, that will be hosted by St. Clair in Windsor from October 17-18. The Lords will open up the championship against the Conestoga Condors on Friday.

ROUND ROBIN RECAP

In the Lords four games at the national tournament, three have ended with only one run separating the teams. Durham picked up wins over Calgary (7-6) and Saskatchewan (6-5), while falling to OCAA opponents St. Clair (7-0) and Humber (8-7).
 
Durham advanced to the quarter-finals after going 2-1 in round robin play.
 
The Lords opened up the championship with a comeback victory over Calgary, scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win by a final score of 7-6. Trailing by a run with two outs, Durham rallied with back-to-back hits by Tara Robinson and Caleigh Coels. Up next was Katrina Gammie, who would hit a fly ball in which the right fielder would drop allowing the two Durham runs to score for the opening game walk-off victory. Samantha MacCallum would earn the win for Durham, allowing one run in three innings of relief.
 
In an all-OCAA match in game two, the St. Clair Saints would walk away with a 7-0 shutout over the Lords. St. Clair ace Alexa Georgiou pitched the complete game shutout, allowing only six hits and one walk while striking out five batters. St. Clair scored two runs in the first, four in the fourth and one in the sixth.
 
Just like they did on day one, Durham needed another comeback effort to beat the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. Trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Durham managed to put four runs on the board to take a one-run lead in which they would never relinquish. With the bases loaded in the fifth, Hope Eagleson came up with a clutch two-run single to put the Lords in front 6-5.
 
In the quarter-finals against Humber, the Hawks would not allow for a third Durham comeback as they managed to hold off a seventh inning rally. Leading 8-6 in the bottom of the seventh, the Lords loaded the bases with none out. After Humber gunned out Justine Pike at home for the first out, Durham would get within one run off a Hope Eagleson sacrifice fly. With a trip to the national semi-finals on the line, the Hawks managed to putout Caleigh Coels for out number three.

A QUICK LOOK AT THE LORDS
Overall Record: 18-11
Conference Record: 14-4
 
Next Game: OCAA Championship vs. Conestoga (Fri. Oct. 17)