May 21, 2007

CALIFORNIA BAPTIST SCORES EARLY TO ADVANCE IN WINNER'S BRACKETLead Off Triple By Sara Goforth Begins Rally for California Baptist

Decatur, Ala. - From the 2007 NAIA National Softball Championship at Wilson Morgan Park in Decatur, Alabama, California Baptist University improves their record to 57-3 in the winner's bracket with a 5-1 victory over Saint Gregory's University (Okla.) (35-13).

Centerfielder Sara Goforth continued to led the Lancers offensively going 3-for-4 with two RBI in the opening game of the winner's bracket. In the top of the first inning, Goforth ripped a triple to deep center field, scoring on a home run to right field by teammate Chantal Millard. Millard and Goforth led the Lancers coming into the national championship with .444 and .427 batting averages respectively. Millard was 1-for-3 in the game with two runs scored, two RBI, and the homerun.

Amy Thomas earned the victory for California Baptist pitching seven complete innings allowing only one earned run and gathering eight strikeouts. Thomas improves to 27-2 on the season.

In the loss for Saint Gregory's, the Lady Cavaliers managed only one run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Catcher Brittany Richardson scored the only run for Saint Gregory's after hitting a one-out single. Teammate Heather Humphrey followed with an infield single to advance Richardson to second base. Both runners continued to advance on the base paths with a passed ball. Richardson then scored on a ground out by Brittany Dojack.

Sharon Bell suffered the loss for Saint Gregory's dropping her season record to 34-12. Bell pitched all seven innings allowing five earned runs and striking out eight batters.

California Baptist advances to face Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) (43-10 ) at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon. St. Gregory's will face Dickinson State University (N.D.) (32-7) at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon as well.

For more information on the 2007 NAIA Softball National Championship, please visit www.naia.org.