May 25, 2010

DECATUR, Ala. - Simon Fraser (B.C.) downed Belhaven (Miss.) 4-2 in the first round of the double-elimination bracket of the 2010 NAIA Softball National Championship Monday at Wilson Morgan Softball Complex. The Clan (25-14), who were an hour removed from a 12 inning decisive pool play victory, advance to a Tuesday date with Shorter (Ga.). Belhaven (53-9) drops down into the losers bracket and will face Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.). Both games are slated for a 12 p.m. CDT start.

Cara Lukawesky (5-1) threw a complete game for Simon Fraser, scattering six hits and gave up both earned runs en route to the win. The loss was charged to Sarah Burns (29-5), with the Clan touching her for nine hits and all four earned runs. She had six strikeouts in the losing effort.

Britney Webb doubled to open Belhaven's first trip to the plate and moved to third on a Christina Jaques single. Webb scored when Tiffany Ansley grounded out to the shortstop for the 1-0 lead.

Kelsey Haberl brought in two of Simon Fraser's third-inning runs with single to center field, scoring Haley Cicchetti and Jessie Harris. Cicchetti was on base after hitting a double to deep left-field that scored Nicola Collicutt, who singled with two outs in the frame. At the end of three, Simon Fraser held a 3-1 advantage.

A sacrifice fly by Leah Riske in the top of the fifth that scored Jessie Harris provided the Clan with an insurance run, going up 4-1.

Back-to-back doubles by Jaques and Ansely in the Blazer sixth provided one more run and cut Simon Fraser's lead to 4-2, but the offense was unable to make push across a tying run in the seventh. Lukawesky gave up the lead-off walk, but sat down Katie Sanders, forced pinched hitter Britanee Pace to fly out to second and Webb grounded out to end the inning.