May 21, 2011

GULF SHORES, Ala. – (Box Score) Cal State-San Marcos (43-9) one-hit Bethel (Ind.) (38-8) and won 3-0 to remain unbeaten in Pool D at the 2011 NAIA Softball National Championship.

The Cougars advance to the eight-team double-elimination bracket where they will face Shorter (Ga.) Monday at 10 a.m. CDT. The tournament will conclude Wednesday with the championship game.

Brenna Sandberg continued to dominate, moving to 39-8 on the season by twirling a one-hit shutout. She struck out six and walked one while throwing 102 pitches. Giana Zimmerman (18-4) was tagged with the loss after giving up one earned run on five hits in a complete-game effort.

Even with the great effort, Sandberg had only one 1-2-3 inning since she hit four batters.

The top of the order sparked the Cougars’ offense, as leadoff hitter Derrisha Lacey finished 2-for-3 with one run scored and two-hole hitter Alicia Ingram went 2-for-4 at the plate with one RBI. Those were four of the team’s five hits.

Holly Weaver recorded the only hit of the game for the Pilots when she led off the first inning with an infield single.

Zimmerman shut down the Cougar bats through four innings until a one-out walk and two-out throwing error handed Cal State-San Marcos the only runs it would need.

Bethel ends its season with a 2-1 record in pool play.

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