May 19, 2009

DECATUR, Ala. – Behind the arm of Sharon Bell, St. Gregory’s (Okla.) University will play California Baptist University for the 2009 NAIA National Championship after a 3-1 win over Dickinson State (N.D.) University.  In the win over Dickinson State, Bell recorded 10 strikeouts in the game, pushing her tournament total to a record 78 strikeouts.  She passed the old record of 72 set back in 2005 Ashley Lantz of Simon Fraser (Canada) University. 

St. Gregory’s did not waste time as they posted two runs in the top of the first inning.  Cortney Reynaga drove in the first run with an RBI double, followed by an RBI single from Wendy Acosta.  Another run for the Cavaliers in the third on Acosta’s second RBI single of the game gave Bell the insurance runs she needed. 

Dickinson State, ranked No. 3 in the NAIA, made their first noise of the game when Erika Arvizo drove a Bell pitch for a homerun in the bottom of the seventh.  But that would be all the Blue Hawks would get.

Bell (29-8) tossed a complete game, allowing just five hits and one run with the 10 strikeouts.  Sara Jane Webster took the loss, allowing seven hits and three runs in her complete game effort. 

St. Gregory’s, ranked No. 7 in the NAIA, will face No. 1 California Baptist at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20.  This is a rematch of the winner’s bracket final when California Baptist defeated St. Gregory’s 5-4.  St. Gregory’s will need to defeat California Baptist twice to claim the title.

Dickinson State ends their season with a 42-5 record.

-NAIA-