May 25, 2010

DECATUR, Ala. - Simon Fraser (B.C.) earned a spot in the title game of the 2010 NAIA Softball National Championship with a 7-6 win over Oklahoma City Tuesday at Wilson Morgan Softball Complex. Oklahoma City (44-13) drops down into the losers bracket and will face California Baptist (64-3) Wednesday at 11 a.m. The winner of that game will collide with the Clan at 3 p.m.

Wednesday's National Championship game will be the seventh for Simon Fraser (27-14), as the Clan will be seeking its fourth softball title in the program's history, all under the guidance of 16-year head coach Mike Reeney. The veteran skipper is 3-3 in National Championship games, winning it all in 1999, 2003 and 2005. His squads finished as the runner-up in 1998, 2001 and 2004.

The Clan used a trio of pitchers to get past Oklahoma City, with Ashley Hadland (3-3) getting the win and Jennifer Van Egdom recording the save. Cara Lukawesky started, but was replaced after three innings when she was touched for seven hits and three earned runs.

Star ace Lily LeVelle started in the circle, but lasted just three batters, giving up two earned runs on two hits, before being replaced by Ashley Wilburn. Wilburn (14-5) suffered the loss in six innings of work, scattering nine hits and five runs, two of which were earned.

Both offenses had seven players collect a hit and four batters drive in a run during the game. Simon Fraser finished with 11 hits and committed just one error in the field, while Oklahoma City pounded out 10 hits, but had five costly miscues.

The Clan held a 4-1 lead after two innings, scoring a pair in the first and second frames. Oklahoma City pushed one across in the top of the second by playing small ball to move Wilburn around after she singled to start the inning.

Oklahoma City took the lead with four runs on four hits in the fourth inning. Back-to-back singles by LeeAnn Lopez and Jen Davis put runners at first and second for the Stars. Both advanced 60 feet when Amanda Howard earned a free pass down to first to load the bases with one out. A big stick, a triple to deep right-center field, from Autumn Mayberry cleared the bases and LeVelle followed in suit with a double to score Mayberry for an Oklahoma City 5-4 lead.

That lead was short lived. Simon Fraser answered right back with two runs in the bottom half of the frame. Leadoff batter Jessie Harris singled to left-center and Chrissy Caviglia reached on a wild throw to Lopez at first base. Harris sprinted to third on the throw, putting runners at first and third with nobody out. Kelsey Haberl's grounder to second allowed Harris to score and tie the game at 5-5. A passed by the catcher allowed Caviglia to take third and then score when shortstop Kelby Roberson misplayed a grounder by Leah Riske, for a 6-5 lead.

Oklahoma City went to work in the top half of the sixth, but LaVelle hit into a fielder's choice to force out Mayberry, who reached on a walk. LeVelle came in to score after stealing second on a single by Nathalie Timmermans, cutting the lead to 7-6. Timmermans' pinch runner, Alicia Clifton, was called for leaving the bag early to shut down the sixth-inning scoring efforts.

Van Egdom forced the final three Star batters into two groundouts and struck out another to end the game and secure the win for Simon Fraser.