May 22, 2010

DECATUR, Ala. - Point Loma Nazarene had opportunities throughout the first seven innings of play to push across a run, leaving eight base runners stranded, but finally got the timely hit in the top of the eighth inning to down MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 1-0. With the win, the Sea Lions (30-14) move to 2-0 in the pool, while the Patriots (45-8) slip to 1-1.

Tyler Lent tossed her second complete game in Decatur, holding MidAmerica Nazarene to two hits, which came early in the second an third inning. From there she went to work and shut down the Patriots' offense to collect her 18th win of the season. Penny Eastman was charged with the loss, surrendering the earned run while giving up four hits.

Samantha Hall earned a free pass to lead off the top of the eighth and then took second with the Sea Lions second stolen base of the game. With two outs, senior Janel Guadagno doubled to left field to bring Hall around for the game-winning run.

MidAmerica Nazarene got a hit each from Brianna Payne and Ashley Salter in the loss.

Shorter (49-14) defeated Ottawa (Kan.) 3-0 to improve to 2-0 in pool play. The Lady Braves fell to 0-2 in event action and 27-9 overall. Libby Munson took the win for the Hawks, throwing a complete-game shutout on just four hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. Ashley Renaldi started and took the loss for Ottawa, tossing five frames and giving up two earned runs on five hits with two walks and one strikeout. Morgan Beckler entered in relief in the sixth and allowed one earned run on one hit with one walk and two strikeouts.

Shorter's offense chipped away at the Lady Braves in the top of the second as Kara Pollock doubled to left-center to score Libby Munson who reached on a single to right. The Hawks held a one-run lead going into the top of the fifth when Tiffany Adams singled to left field. Jessica Womble earned her second single of the evening to score Adams and put Shorter up 2-0. Elisabeth Barber homered in the top of the sixth over the left field wall to give the Hawks their third and final run.

Erin Michael led the Lady Braves, going 2-for-3 on the night, but the rest of the Ottawa bats stayed silent and couldn't produce any runs to catch Shorter.

Pool G action will conclude Monday with MidAmerica Nazarene playing Ottawa at 9 a.m., followed by Point Loma Nazarene colliding with Shorter at 2 p.m.