May 21, 2011

GULF SHORES, Ala. – (Box Score) William Carey (Miss.) defeated Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 3-0 to stay perfect in pool play action at the 2011 NAIA Softball National Championship.

The Lady Crusaders (56-6) will advance to the eight-team double-elimination bracket Monday at 10 a.m. CDT and will face Southern States Athletic Conference rival Belhaven (Miss.).

Anna Ard improved to 29-9 on the season by limiting the Tigers to one hit and one walk while fanning seven in seven innings of work. Katie Hannagan (26-8) took the loss for Olivet Nazarene after surrendering two earned runs on four hits in six innings of work.

Tan Montgomery finished 2-for-3 for the Lady Crusaders, while Jeana Erickson was 1-for-3 with a two-run double. Jordan Reynolds recorded the Tigers’ lone hit, which came with two outs in the third inning that saw Ard strikeout the side.

William Carey used small ball to open the scoring in the bottom of the first when Montgomery reached on a bunt single, moved to second on a sacrifice, third on a grounder and scored on an errant throw.

After Olivet Nazarene’s single in the third, nobody reached base until the bottom of the sixth inning when Erickson came through with her two-out, two-run double to provide some cushion for Ard.

Olivet Nazarene finishes 2-1 in pool play and ends its season at 50-12.

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