May 23, 2011

GULF SHORES, Ala. – (Box Score) William Carey (Miss.) staved off elimination by defeating Lubbock Christian (Texas) 8-4 in double-elimination bracket play at the 2011 NAIA Softball National Championship Monday. Anna Ard (31-3) scattered eight hits and allowed four runs in a complete-game effort to get the win while fanning seven hitters.

Alyssa Freight took the loss for Lubbock Christian after giving up two earned runs on eight hits in four innings of work.

William Carey will battle Cal State San Marcos today at 5:30 p.m. CDT in an elimination game. The contest will be video-streamed live at www.WatchNAIA.com. The Chaps end their season with a 52-12 overall record.

The Lady Crusader bats backed Ard with eight runs on eleven hits, led by two home runs and four RBIs from third baseman Judy Barber. The two homers in a tournament game ties the record held by several, and she now sits at four for the tournament.

Hitting in front of Barber in the lineup, Casey Alexander went 4-for-4 at the dish, while Jeana Erickson drove in a pair of runs.

Kim Frazier finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs and hit her fourth home run of the tournament, while Stephanie Rendon went 2-for-3 for Lubbock Christian.

Barber started the scoring with a three-run blast in the first inning after a pair of bunt singles and an error. Frazier answered the blast with a two-run shot of her own in the bottom half of the frame, but William Carey gained some breathing room with single tallies in the second and third innings.

Missy Paulina hit a leadoff homer in the second and Barber connected for a solo shot in the third. William Carey then put the game out of reach with a three-spot in the seventh thanks to Erickson’s two-run base hit.

The 31^st annual event is played at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.

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