Story by Chad Waller, NAIA Director of Athletic Communications & Media
Pictures courtesy of Paul Penders Photography, Click HERE to order

CLERMONT, Fla. – (Box Score) (Bracket) Senior Mallory Spurlock scattered three hits – all singles – in a complete-game shutout to lead No. 9-seed Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) to a 4-0 win against eighth-seeded Faulkner (Ala.) in the second game this afternoon at the 2018 NAIA Softball World Series at Legends Way Ball Fields. The 38th annual event is hosted by PFX Athletics for the second-straight year.

Up Next:
Freed-Hardeman moves on to face No. 1 seed Georgia Gwinnett at 5:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday. Faulkner falls to the elimination bracket and will face the No. 4 Science & Arts (Okla.) / /No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan loser on Saturday at 10 a.m. EDT.

Game-Changer:
Freed-Hardeman gave Mallory Spurlock all the offense she needed in the top of the first inning with a pair of runs. Caitlyn Carter laced the World Series’ first triple to left field – her team-best seventh of the year – to lead off the contest. Carter scored on a ground-out three batters later. Emily Bombard handed the Lady Lions a 2-0 edge racing home on an RBI-single by Annaka Baxter.

Game Notes:
The game pitted two World Series first-timers… Mallory Spurlock moves to 18-6 in the circle on the year… With the shutout, Spurlock has now pitched 17.1-consecutive innings with zero earned runs. The last time she allowed an earned run was against Saint Xavier (Ill.) on May 14 – which was five appearances ago – in the 1-0 loss… Freed-Hardeman’s win gives the American Midwest Conference two wins in the first day – fellow member Columbia (Mo.) was victorious by a 4-1 count earlier… The lower seeds now hold a 2-0 record thus far in the World Series.

How to Watch:
Stretch Internet, the NAIA’s official video-streaming company of NAIA national championship events, will be broadcasting all 19 games of the 2018 NAIA Softball World Series on the NAIA Network. The All-World Series package can be purchased for $29.95 or the day package for $9.95. For more information, including how to register for an account, click here.

Source: National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics