CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. -- Washington & Jefferson College capped a remarkable three-game run Friday through the Presidents' Athletic Conference Softball Tournament with a 6-3 victory over Geneva to capture to the 2014 conference championship and earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. 

The third-seeded Presidents (25-10) will learn their regional site and opponent on Monday morning (9:00 am) when the brackets are released on NCAA.com.  W&J will be making its first appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament. 

The 2014 Presidents are the third team in school history to win a Presidents' Athletic Conference softball title, joining the 1996 and 2006 squads.  Head Coach Nicole Vitello is the third coach to lead W&J to the softball championship.  W&J's 25 victories this year tie for the third-best, single-season total in school history. 

"It feels unbelievable," said Vitello, who is in her seventh season at Washington & Jefferson and is the program's all-time coaching wins leader with 129.  "Everyone has worked so hard to get here and I'm very proud of the way they've played all season long." 

Sophomore pitcher Krista McCartney was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after earning the victory in the circle during all three games on Friday.  Kelsey Cunningham, Madison Rotto and Emily Watson were all selected to the All-Tournament Team. 

W&J lost to second-seeded Geneva (23-17) in its first tournament game on Thursday by a 5-2 margin before roaring back with four consecutive wins to capture the PAC trophy.  The Presidents defeated No. 4 seed Bethany Thursday night 3-2 before earning 1-0 triumphs over top-seeded Thomas More and Geneva to force the second championship game. 

Geneva led 1-0 after one inning in the second championship game, but Washington & Jefferson took control with five runs in the third.  Courtney Roperti singled home Breanna Gleason with the first run and Morgan Figura scored after Sadie Marak reached on an error.  Abby Cunningham's RBI double made it a 3-1 game before Rotto delivered a two-run single for a 5-1 lead. 

A sacrifice fly by Laura Beck in the bottom of the third brought GC to within 5-2, but Rotto added an insurance run in the fifth when her sacrifice fly scored Marak. 

McCartney pitched the first four innings before giving way to Bethany Shepherd and Emily Watson.  Shepherd allowed a solo home run to Ashley Davis, but worked out of a jam to keep the lead at three.  Watson struck out three in the final two innings to collect the save.  The final out was recorded when Rotto fielded a ground ball and stepped on first base to set off the celebration. 

Rotto had three runs batted in, while Roperti and Watson led the lineup with two outs.  McCartney allowed two runs on three hits in four innings to improve to 12-3 this season.  She pitched 18 innings on Friday and held opponents to two runs on nine total hits. 

2014 Presidents' Athletic Conference Softball All-Tournament Team
W&J-Sophomore P Krista McCartney - Most Outstanding Player
W&J-Senior P/1B Madison Rotto
W&J-Senior SS Kelsey Cunningham
W&J-Sophomore DP/P Emily Watson
Geneva-Sophomore OF Laura Beck
Geneva-Senior SS Ashley Davis
Geneva-Senior 2B Christina Fuqua
Thomas More-Sophomore DP Haley Shuemake
Thomas More-Sophomore SS Ana Walter
Bethany-Sophomore 1B Deanna Mihalco