May 24, 2010

DECATUR, Ala. - William Carey posted a pair of runs in the third inning and held on to defeat California State-San Marcos 2-1 to advance into the double-elimination bracket of the 2010 NAIA Softball National Championship Monday at Wilson Morgan Softball Complex. The Lady Crusaders will take on Bethel (Ind.), the winner of Pool D, at 9 p.m. CDT.

William Carey moves into the double-elimination bracket for the first time in three trips to the national championship. Winners of their last eight games, the Lady Crusaders have scored 26 runs in three games played in Decatur and share ownership of the national championship's single-game home run record after blasting four out of the park against Mount Mercy (Iowa) in the first round of pool play.

Anna Ard was credited with the win, throwing five innings, giving up the earned run on four hits to lift the Lady Crusaders' record to 43-14. Picking up the save was Melanie Bush with two hitless innings of work. The loss was charged to Brenna Sandberg, who threw a seven-hit complete game. California State-San Marcos' first trip to the national championship ends with a 2-1 mark in pool play and closes out its season at 40-15.

First-batter walks resulted in runs for both William Carey and California State-San Marcos. Cougar Ciera Ashman earned a free pass as the game's first batter and got herself into scoring position by stealing second. Lauren Nelson's single to shallow right-center field sent Ashman home for the early 1-0 advantage for California State-San Marcos.

Kelsey Smith took a base on balls to start the Lady Crusader third inning. Leadoff hitter Tan Montgomery laid down the bunt and moved up to second on a wild throw by catcher Mimi Krutein. Smith scampered around to third on the play and crossed the plate a batter later thanks to Casey Alexander's hit to shallow center. Montgomery also came in to score to put William Carey up 2-1.

The Cougars had an opportunity to tie the game up in the top of the sixth inning as Alyssa Dronenburg opened the frame with a single to left field. She moved up to second after Lauren Nelson was issued a free pass and took third on an infield miscue. Shanti Poston put the ball in play, but it did not get past third baseman Judy Barber, who threw out Dronenburg at the plate. California State-San Marcos closed out the inning with a Krutein fly out.

Mount Mercy (Iowa) defeated Union (Ky.) 5-4 in 10 innings earlier in the day. The win for the Mustangs was their first in Decatur, closing out their fourth appearance at the event with a 1-2 mark in pool play and end their season at 37-11. Union went 0-3 in its first national championship trip and finishes its campaign at 20-19.

Jessica Magnuson and Emily Madsen each had a pair of RBIs for Mount Mercy and Rosie Jones drove in another. Picking up the win from the circle was Becca Smith, who gave up four earned runs on nine hits and struck out a dozen. Lady Bulldog Bethany Outland brought in three of Union's runs and Jessie Dunning brought in one. Sarah Driver suffered the loss, giving up four earned runs on nine hits and also fanned 12 Mustang batters.