May 18, 2009

DECATUR, Ala. - A new national champion will be crowned in 2009 at the 29^th Annual NAIA Softball National Championship as Lubbock Christian (Texas) University, the defending champion, fell to Oklahoma City University 1-0 in a loser's bracket game.  Lubbock Christian, ranked No. 2 in the NAIA and the second seed in the national tournament, dropped their second game of the day while being held scoreless in both contest.

Oklahoma City (52-6), ranked No. 6 in the NAIA, scored the game's only run in the top of the third inning without the use of a hit.  Mindy Crabaugh reached on an error and then scored later in the inning on a throwing error. 

Lilly LaVelle (25-5) held the second ranked team in check with a complete game shutout.  She allowed just two hits and struck out eight batters in the game.  Kelly Griego took the hard luck loss for Lubbock Christian, allowing just four hits and no earned runs in seven innings of work.

Oklahoma City will advance to play Point Loma Nazarene on Monday at 6:00 p.m. in another elimination game.  Lubbock Christian ends their season with a 53-7 record.

-NAIA-