May 24, 2006

MOBILE REMAINS UNDEFEATED IN TOURNAMENT TO CAPTURE THEIR FIRST NATIONAL TITLE

Decatur, Ala. - At the NAIA Softball National Championship at Wilson Morgan Park in Decatur, Alabama, the University of Mobile (Ala.) (50-2) California Baptist University (56-7) 4-1 in the championship game of the 2006 tournament to earn their first national title.  Mobile fell to Simon Fraser University (B.C.) in the championship game of 2003 to finish as runner-up. 

Although the Rams had two extra-inning games which had fans on edge, Mobile did not lose a game in the tournament and only allowed 10 runs in their eight games played.  Pitcher of the Year and First-Team All-American Linden Jones led all pitchers in the tournament, allowing only a single run to be scored against her.  With the victory over California Baptist, Jones improved her season record to 32-1 on the season.  In today's contest she pitched seven complete innings allowing only three hits, one run and striking out 15 batters.

Mobile posted runs to the scoreboard first in the game with one run in each the first and second innings both off homeruns.  The first inning run came from a one-out homerun by Maribel Riera to deep right field and the second inning run came from two-out homerun by Jennifer Gomez.

In the top of the fifth inning, Reira was issued a base on balls and scored when Corey Race singled to center field.  Mobile added an additional run when Kristen Hayes singled down the right field line to score Mayret Perez, who reached on an infield single. 

California Baptist's lone run came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Chantal Millard singled to left center field and scored on Tami Trujillo's single to left center.

Hayes led all Mobile batters in the game going 3-for-4 with one RBI while Trujillo led the Lancers going 2-for-3.  First Team All-American Candice Thomas suffered the loss to drop her season record to 37-4.  Thomas pitched seven complete innings allowing four earned runs and striking out six batters.

After winning four games in pool play, Mobile defeated three teams in bracket play: defending champion Simon Fraser 7-0, and California Baptist twice 6-4 and 4-1 respectively.

Ending with their best season in school history with a record 57 wins, California Baptist fought their way back from a 6-4 extra-inning loss to Mobile on Monday to face the Rams in the championship game.  After the first loss to Mobile, California Baptist went on to defeat Trevecca Nazarene University (Tenn.) 2-1, defending champion Simon Fraser University (B.C.) 4-3, and Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) 7-0.