May 24, 2011

GULF SHORES, Ala. – (Box Score) California Baptist (65-4) defeated Belhaven (Miss.) (50-12) 4-1 to advance to the 2011 NAIA Softball National Championship game Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.

The Lancers will battle the Oregon Tech Owls, who are undefeated thus far in tournament play. If the Owls win, they are the champions, while if Cal Baptist wins, they will have to win another game 30 minutes later.

Tory Ferreira (19-2) picked up the win for the Lancers after allowing only one earned on three hits in 5.2 innings of work from the circle. Emma Holden came in to record the final four outs to pick up the save.

Sarah Burns (36-9) threw every inning in tournament play for Belhaven and took the loss after giving up three earned runs on nine hits in a complete-game effort.

Three of those nine hits allowed to the Lancer batters accounted for three runs, as Cal Baptist mashed three solo home runs, giving them a tournament leading eight long balls. Briana Corral hit her fourth and fifth doubles of the tournament to set a new record. Several players had four doubles in a single tournament.

Sloan McHann struck first for the Lancers with a leadoff home run in the fourth, and then the team added a pair of long balls in the sixth to cement the game.

Lindsay Henry led off the inning with a bomb, and then April Vasquez smacked a two-out homer to cap the barrage.

Belhaven finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth on a RBI-single from Analee Carr, but Holden stranded the bases loaded with a strikeout to keep the lead for Cal Baptist.

Carr led Belhaven with a 2-for-3 effort at the dish. McHann finished 3-for-4 with two RBI for Cal Baptist and Corral finished 2-for-3.

The National Championship game will be broadcast live at www.watchnaia.com<http://www.watchnaia.com>.