May 24, 2010

DECATUR, Ala. - California Baptist cruised past Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 10-1 in five innings to advance into the double-elimination bracket of the 2010 NAIA Softball National Championship Monday at Wilson Morgan Softball Complex. The defending national champions will take on Pool D winner Oklahoma City at 9 p.m. CDT.

The Lancers pounded out 14 hits, five of which came off of losing pitcher Katie Hannagan (26-6), en route the victory via run-rule. California Baptist ace Emma Holden pushed her record in the circle to 20-0 with a two-hit, five inning performance and the Lancers improved 61-2 overall. Olivet Nazarene's sixth trip to the national championships ends with a 1-2 record in pool play and ends the season at 52-13.

California Baptist jumped out early with two runs in the first inning and six in the second. Six Lancer batters recorded a hit in the game, led by Briana Corral's 3-for-3 showing at the plate with three RBIs and three scored runs. She blasted a two-run shot over the left-field fence in the top of the fifth. Sarah Strong also knocked in a pair of runs. Kendall Gorham and Ashley Boyd joined Corral with three hits in the contest.

Olivet Nazarene's lone run came in the bottom of the first inning with leadoff batter Marisa Baker taking a Holden pitch over the right-field fence on a 1-0 count. That would be the end of the Tiger offense in the game though, as only three players would reach base over the next four innings.

Holy Names (Calif.) scored a run in the second inning and held on for a 1-0 victory over Midland Lutheran (Neb.) to wrap up pool play. The win was the first in Decatur for the Hawks (28-22), who posted a 1-2 mark in their second trip to the national championship. Also making their second trip, the Warriors went 1-2 in the pool and close out the season at 30-25.

Melanie Verrico's bunt for a base hit scored Lacey Parodi in the bottom of the second inning. Both Verrico and Parodi provided the Hawk offense with two hits each. Hurler Markie Benavidez-Talbott was credited with the win, tossing a two-hitter and striking out nine. Touching Benavidez-Talbott were Midland Lutheran's Tiana Gataivasa and Jessie Smith. The loss went against Kelly Sladek, giving up one earned run on five hits with five strike outs.