May 19, 2006

Pool B
#2 California Baptist University 2-0
#7 Lee University (Tenn.)   2-0
Tiffin University (Ohio)   1-1
University of Science & Arts (Okla.)  0-2
Cornerstone University (Mich.)  0-2

#2 California Baptist def. Cornerstone 5-3
The tournament's second seeded California Baptist University (51-4) needed a three-run rally in the top of the seventh inning to win 5-3 and avoid the upset bid by Cornerstone University (Mich.).  California Baptist scored first with two runs in the top of the first.  Cornerstone (27-20) then took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning with three runs helped by a two run homerun by Jessica Dood.  The score remained 3-2 in favor of Cornerstone until the late rally in the seventh by California Baptist Lancers.  The rally was started with a leadoff home run by Shannon Brandt to tie the game.  Casandrah Carreon then reached on an error and later scored on a groundout.  The Lancer's added an insurance run with an RBI double by Chantal Millard.  Candice Thomas (31-1) earned the win after pitching four innings of relief for Sarah Sherman.  Leah Gruppen (27-14) took the loss for Cornerstone in a complete game performance.

#7 Lee def. USAO 6-4 (8 innings)
In the first extra inning game of the tournament, the seventh seeded Lee University (Tenn.) Lady Flames rallied to defeat University of Science and Arts (Okla.) 6-4 in eight innings.  USAO (42-19) scored first with a run in the bottom of the first inning.  Lee (52-12) then scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning, but USAO answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to regain a 4-2 advantage.  That deficit remained for Lee with two outs in the top of the seventh.  Lee's Jill Webb then reached on an error.  Kelly Mounce reached on a fielder's choice as Webb was putout.  Then Kelly Golden cranked a homerun to centerfield to tie the game at 4-4.  USAO failed to score in the bottom of the seventh.  Lee struck again for two runs in the top of the eighth inning on an RBI double by Lauren Hilliard and a wild pitch that plated Hilliard later in the inning.  Again, USAO was unable to answer as they dropped the game 6-4.  Ashley Alyssa (12-3) earned the win with three innings of scoreless relief.  Kindra Gregory (22-10) took the loss by allowing six runs, five earned, and nine hits over her eight innings. 

#2 California Baptist def. Tiffin 9-2
California Baptist University (52-4) completed the first day of pool play with a 2-0 record as it topped Tiffin University (Ohio) 9-2.  Tiffin (55-10) struck first with a run in the top of the first on an unearned run when Lauren Williams drove in Cyla Hawkins on a sacrifice fly.  California Baptist quickly answered with two runs in the bottom of the first and one more in the second to take a 3-1 lead.  Tiffin scored again in the fourth, however, California Baptist pulled away with five runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to seal the 9-2 win.  Tami Trujillo and Casandrah Carreon each recorded three hits in the game.  Carreon hit two homeruns in the game and drove in four runs.  Trujillo also added a solo home run in the contest.  Candice Thomas (32-1) earned the win as she allowed just two runs on four hits in her seven innings of work.  Krista Sowers (22-5) allowed eight runs, seven earned, on 10 hits in five innings.  Elizabeth Grabel tossed one inning of relief, allowing one run on one hit for Tiffin. 

#7 Lee def. Cornerstone 4-0
Lee University (Tenn.), seeded #7, completed day one of pool play with a 2-0 record after defeating Cornerstone University (Mich.) 4-0.  Lindsey Ashley (14-4) helped lead the Lee Lady Flames (53-12) with a complete game shutout, allowing five hits and striking out four batters.  Seven of Lee's starting nine recorded at least one hit with five players getting two hits each.  Ja'Andrea Hinton led the way with a 2-for-2 day with two RBI and a run scored.  Leah Gruppen (27-15) took the loss after allowing 12 hits and four runs over her six innings of work.

Tiffin defeated USAO 4-3
Tiffin University (Ohio) evened its opening day record to 1-1 with a 4-3 win against University of Science and Arts (Okla.).  USAO (42-21) scored first with a run in each the third and fifth innings to take a 2-0 lead.  Tiffin (56-10) rallied with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 3-2 lead.  However, USAO answered right back with the tying run in the top of the sixth.  Then, for the second time in the game, Tiffin rallied to retake the lead 4-3 with a run in the bottom of the sixth.  Tiffin was led by Kristina Schweikert with two hits, two RBI, and one run.  For USAO, Hope Foley went 2-for-3 with a home run, RBI, and two runs scored.  April Nietrzeba (30-5) earned the win with a complete game, allowing nine hits and three runs.  Kindra Gregory (22-11) went the distance allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out seven batters.