First Round Rematch of Conference Foes Goes to Underdog
May 18, 2009
DECATUR, Ala. - The defending NAIA Softball National Champions, Lubbock Christian (Texas) University will have to come out of the loser's bracket for the second straight season if they want to repeat. Sooner Athletic Conference foe St. Gregory's (Okla.) University defeated Lubbock Christian 2-0 in the first round of bracket play in the 29th Annual NAIA Softball National Championships.
This marked the sixth meeting of the season between St. Gregory's and Lubbock Christian. The Lady Chaps of Lubbock Christian won four of the five meetings, including four in a row, over St. Gregory's.
The game was scoreless through six innings, until St. Gregory's broke through with two runs in the top of the seventh inning. St. Gregory's earned a walk and two hits in the inning to load the bases with one out. A sacrifice fly from Kyra Hart drove in the first run, followed by Dauman scoring on a wild pitch for the second run.
Sharon Bell (27-8) completed the game, holding Lubbock Christian scoreless in the bottom of the seventh to earn the win. Bell posted 15 strikeouts in the game, while allowing just five hits in the shutout. Alyssa Gutierrez (28-3) took the hard-luck loss, allowing just one run on six hits in her six innings of work.
St. Gregory's will advance to play Dickinson State in the winner bracket semifinals at 1:30 p.m. on Monday. Lubbock Christian drops to the loser's bracket for an elimination game with Oklahoma City, a match up of the last two NAIA Softball National Champions.
-NAIA-
