May 21, 2011

GULF SHORES, Ala. – (Box Score) Simpson (Calif.) (30-17) beat defending NAIA National Champion Simon Fraser (B.C.) (18-25) on Nichole Hutchins’ walk-off RBI-single in the bottom of the seventh on the final day of pool play action at the 2011 NAIA Softball National Championship.

The result makes both teams 2-1 in pool play action as they await the Lubbock Christian (Texas) and Reinhardt (Ga.) result to figure out who will advance. The eight-team double-elimination bracket will begin May 23 at 10 a.m. CDT.

Simon Fraser set the stage for the walk-off win by tying the game with two runs on four hits in the top of the sixth inning as four straight batters hit their way on after a leadoff out. Sammie Olexa delivered a two-run, pinch-hit single to knot it up.

Four batters later, with the bases juiced and two outs, Simpson’s Hayley Rodriguez (16-5) induced a comeback to prevent further damage.

Corinne Alexander then started the seventh inning rally by drawing a leadoff walk and moved to third on a sacrifice and error. After a pop out and walk, Hutchins looped her game-winning single to left-center in front of a diving Rosie Murphy.

Rodriguez got the win after giving up two runs on 12 hits in seven innings of action. She walked a pair and struck out six. Cara Lukawesky (16-9) took the loss after giving up three runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings of work in the circle.

Hutchins finished 2-for-4 with one RBI for Simpson, Brooke Downs added a pair of hits and Nicki Feuerbach finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

Brittany Ribeiro led the Clan with a 3-for-4 performance, while Leah Riske finished 2-for-3 at the dish. Nine different Simon Fraser hitters recorded a hit, but the Clan left 11 runners on base.

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