Concordia Scores 5-0 Shutout of William Carey
Story by Chad Waller, Director of Communications & Sports Information
Pictures courtesy of Rick Dominowski, Click HERE to order
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – (Box Score) Lucy Baldovino limited No. 8 William Carey (Miss.) to six hits through seven innings and earned a 5-0 shutout for No. 9 Concordia (Ore.) in the first day of the 35th Annual NAIA Softball World Series, presented by Security National Bank and Morningside College. Concordia’s offense got all five runs in the fourth inning.
Concordia (44-17) will now take on top-seed LSU Alexandria (La.) on Saturday at 7 p.m. CDT. William Carey, a team that finished second in the 2014 World Series, falls to the elimination bracket to battle the loser of No. 4 Campbellsville (Ky.) / No. 5 Central Methodist (Mo.) Saturday at 10 a.m.
In her 31st start of the year, Baldovino got through a rough beginning to tally her fifth shutout of the year. She left the bases loaded in both the first and second innings. From innings three-through-seven, the senior from Bedford, Ore., allowed just a single and a walk. At one point, she retired 10-straight William Carey batters.
Taylor Bussey got the Cavalier offense going in the top of the fourth inning with a single to left field. She came around to score on a fielder’s choice by Taylor Copher. The big hit was a double by Meghan Luebbert, which sent home Mariah Jimenez and Jamie Martin. Luebbert’s double was her team-leading 20th on the year, which ranks in the NAIA top 15.
The Concordia victory is its first since 2010 in the postseason.
Baldovino moved to 24-5 on the year as she allowed six hits and tallied five strikeouts.
William Carey (41-18) starting pitcher Brittany LeBlanc took the loss to drop to 7-4. Heading into the fourth inning, LeBlanc had a no-hitter going against the Cavaliers. She was relieved by Hannah Moak, who went 3 2/3 innings and gave up one earned run on five hits.
Kate Santos and Sam Owirka each posted two hits for Concordia.
For William Carey, Cecilia Lawn went 2-for-4 and Kimberly Gilbert finished 2-for-3.
Of the 13 combined hits between the teams, there was only one extra-base hit (double).
Stretch Internet, the NAIA’s official video-streaming company of 17 select NAIA national championship events, will be broadcasting all 19 games of the 2015 NAIA Softball World Series. The All-World Series package can be purchased for $20. For more information, including how to register for an account, click here.The double-elimination event is being played out at the Elizabeth & Irving Jensen Softball Complex. The City of Sioux City and Morningside College serve as official hosts for the first time. For more information on the 2015 NAIA Softball World Series, click here.