May 24, 2010

DECATUR, Ala. - Simon Fraser (B.C.) needed a little extra time to defeat Concordia (Ore.) 7-6 in 12 innings to advance into the double-elimination bracket of the 2010 NAIA Softball National Championship Monday at Wilson Morgan Softball Complex. The Clan will take on Belhaven (Miss.), the winner of Pool F, at 9 p.m. CDT.

Simon Fraser improved to 24-14 overall and went undefeated at 3-0 in pool play in their 14th national championship appearance. Concordia finished its season at 36-6 overall and 1-2 in pool play in just its second trip to the event.

Jennifer Van Egdom took the win for Simon Fraser, throwing 6 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Cara Lukawesky started and went three innings, and Ashley Hadland and Myriam Poirier contributed in relief to the 12 inning effort. Bethany Dempster suffered the loss for Concordia, throwing seven innings and giving up three runs, two of them earned, on eight hits with six walks and no strikeouts.

After the Cavaliers tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth, the game remained scoreless for six full innings. In the top of the 12th, the Clan was finally able to pull away. Lead-off batter Jessie Harris singled to shortstop and a throwing error by Ali Paz sent Harris on to second. Chrissy Caviglia grounded out to move Harris over to third and Kelsey Haberl followed with a walk and then stole second. Carly Moir finally broke the scoring drought with a single to left-center that scored Harris and moved Haberl to third. Moir stole second and Leah Riske walked to load the bases. Brittany Mayers added to the one-run lead with a two-run single to left field, as Riske made it safely to third. On the same play, Mayers advanced to second on a throwing error by left fielder Becca Gawlista. After a pitching change and two consecutive fl outs, the top half of the inning ended and Simon Fraser held a 7-4 lead.

Concordia came to the plate with one last opportunity, and not to be outdone, Kayla Vickaryous got things started for the Cavaliers with a one-out single down the left-field line. Mallory Callahan grounded out and moved Vickaryous over to second. Now with two outs, Paz singled to right-center to score Vickaryous and cut the Clan's lead to two at 7-5. Cameron Way singled to right field and sent Paz to third, as Way moved to second on the throw. Gawlista was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Tina Garcia reached on a walk to score Paz and again cut the lead to one at 7-6. With the bases still loaded, sophomore Ashlie Allison was called in to pinch hit for freshman Kyndell Andrews. With a 3-1 count, Allison took a fastball down the middle for a called second strike. She swung at a chin-high payoff pitch for strike three and Simon Fraser held on to the 7-6 win.

In the first game of the day, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) defeated Bellevue (Neb.) 5-0. The winning pitcher for the Blue Raiders was Morgan Paschall, tossing six innings with no runs allowed on three hits. She walked one batter and struck out six. Taking the loss for the Bruins was Kimber Markley. She threw two innings, allowing one earned run on four hits with one strikeout.

Jamie Williams led the offensive charge for Lindsey Wilson, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Alexis Rodgers added a 2-for-4 effort with one run scored and one RBI and Kelly McCarty went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

This was the Blue Raiders' first championship appearance, as they finished pool play at 2-1 and 47-14 on the season. The Bruins finished pool play 0-3 and 32-17 overall with the loss in their fourth trip to the event.