May 20, 2010

DECATUR, Ala. - Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) and California Baptist were victorious in Pool A action in the opening day of the 2010 NAIA Softball National Championship at Wilson Morgan Softball Complex Thursday.

Olivet Nazarene defeated Holy Names (Calif.) 9-3 to improve to 52-11. The loss drops the Hawks' record to 27-21. Katie Hannagan tossed a seven-hit complete game for the Tigers. Sophomore Stephani Fairclough took the loss, yielding nine hits and fanning six.

The Tigers struck with four runs in the third inning, followed by three in the fifth and two more in the sixth. Senior Jordan Reynolds led the charge with a 2-for-3 performance, including a double and home run, driving in four and scoring three times.

Jessica Meriam was the only Hawk with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

California Baptist defeated Midland Lutheran (Neb.) 7-0 to improve its record to 59-2. The Warriors fell to 29-24 with the loss. Melanie Ahumada went six innings to earn the win for the Lancers, allowing just three hits and striking out four. Kelly Sladek took the loss for Midland, giving up six earned runs in just one-third inning in the circle.

The Lancers took an early 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Sladek walked five and allowed five earned runs with only one out before the Warriors made the call to the bullpen to bring in Lyndsi Eckelberry. Returning to the top of the order, Ashley Boyd, the reigning NAIA Most Valuable Player, hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Sarah Hurlbut and increase California Baptist's lead to six after the opening frame.

Shannon DePuy went 2-for-3 for Midland Lutheran, but the Warriors couldn't get the bats going to support her effort and left eight runners on base in seven innings.

Friday's action in Pool A features California Baptist meeting Holy Names at 10:30 a.m. and Olivet Nazarene taking on Midland Lutheran at 3:30 p.m.