May 25, 2010

DECATUR, Ala. - Shorter (Ga.) posted a 3-1 victory over Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) in the first round of the double-elimination bracket of the 2010 NAIA Softball National Championship Monday at Wilson Morgan Softball Complex. The Hawks (51-14) will face Simon Fraser (B.C.) in the second round Tuesday at 12 p.m. CDT. Trevecca Nazarene (44-16) drops down into the losers bracket and will square off against Belhaven (Miss.) at 12 p.m.

Junior Libby Munson (29-5) pitched a five-hit complete game for the Hawks. She surrendered an earned run to the Trojans, walked two and fanned five. The loss was charged to sophomore Lauren Baker (21-9) who threw a seven-hit complete game, giving up two earned runs, walked two and struck out five Hawk batters.

Shorter notched its first run in the top of the third inning. A lead-off single by Hannah Strength opened the frame and a wild throw by Trojan third baseman Megan Hemmingsen allowed Strength to take second. Two batters later, Tiffany Adams sent a Baker pitch deep down the left-field line to bring Strength around from second and the 1-0 lead.

Three-straight singles by Trevecca Nazarene in the bottom of the fourth frame allowed the Trojans to knot the game at 1-1. Breanna Zeis, Melinda Patterson and Lauren Baker strung together singles with Baker's bringing in Zeis for the run.

Munson led off the Hawk sixth inning with a single to left field and was replaced by pinch runner Chelsea Blair. Blair advanced around the base pads on an Elisabeth Barber sacrifice bunt and a ground out by Kara Pollock. She scored on a wild throw by Trojan second baseman Anais Puertas' attempted play on a hit by Emily Clements.

An insurance run was added in Shorter's final at-bat with Adams sending a sacrifice fly to center field that allowed Strength to score for a a second time in the game after opening the seventh inning with a walk.