Story by Chad Waller, Director of Communications & Sports Information
Pictures courtesy of Rick Dominowski, Click HERE to order

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – (Box Score) No. 6 Mobile (Ala.) staved off elimination with a 2-1 decision over No. 10-seed Dickinson State (N.D.) on Saturday at the 35th Annual NAIA Softball World Series, presented by Security National Bank and Morningside College. Sydney O’Connor and Makayla Scott combined in the circle to limit Dickinson State to three hits on the afternoon.

Mobile advances to play Monday at 1 p.m. CDT against the loser of No. 1 LSU Alexandria (La.) / No. 9 Concordia (Ore.). With a 0-2 record at the World Series, Dickinson State ends the year with a 44-13 record.

Taylor Clinkenbeard was the early offense for Mobile. She led off the game with an infield single, stole second and third base and came home on an error by the shortstop.

The Rams went up 2-0 in the top of the fifth, which would turn out to be the winning run. Tyler Winkler reached base on a single. After a sacrifice, Winkler was driven in on an Emily Vickrey RBI single.

O’Connor and Scott kept the Dickinson State offense in check. Champions of the North Star Athletic Association Tournament, the Blue Hawks entered the game scoring an average of nearly seven runs a game. The Blue Hawks had their chances putting at least one runner on or scoring a run in six-of-seven innings.

The lone run came off the bat of Brianna Grayson as she homered to left to open up the fifth frame. That brought the score to within a 2-1 count in favor of Mobile.

The Mobile pitching staff delivered once again in the late innings, which has been a constant for them all year long – the Rams entered the game ranked No. 8 in the NAIA with a 1.75 ERA. O’Connor was credited with the victory in the circle improving to 13-3. She went 5 1/3 innings allowing one run on three hits. She struck out three and walked two. Scott tossed 1 2/3 innings in relief and did not give up a hit.

In the circle for Dickinson State, Regan Lawrence dropped to 26-7 on the season.

Clinkenbeard was the only player on either team to have multiple hits as she went 2-for-3 with a run scored. She added two stolen bases to increase her season total to 23 – it was her third game this year with a pair of swipes.

Grayson posted her fourth home run of the year as the Blue Hawk offensive highlight.

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.