May 23, 2006

MOBILE SCORES IN BOTTOM OF EIGHTH INNING TO ADVANCE TO CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Decatur, Ala. - At the NAIA Softball National Championship at Wilson Morgan Park in Decatur, Alabama, the University of Mobile (Ala.) (49-2) scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning against Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) (46-16) to advance with a 1-0 victory to the championship game against the winner of the loser's bracket at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

In a repeat of Saturday's matchup which also ended in extra innings, the Mobile and Point Loma game once again came down to a single run in extra innings.  Mobile's Linden Jones threw a no hitter against the Sea Lions of Point Loma while striking out four batters, improving her record to 31-1 on the season.  With this shutout victory, Jones  has accumulated four shutouts in the tournament, not allowing runs against Point Loma, Houston Baptist, and Simon Fraser and is closing in on a 22-year-old record of five shutouts in the national championship.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Evelynne Pare doubled to shallow right center field to start the inning and scored when Angelica Yrigoyen grounded out to the third.  Mobile scattered three hits among three different players.

Dropping down into the loser's bracket, Point Loma will face the winner of the Simon Fraser University (B.C.) (33-5)/California Baptist University (55-6) who play at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.