Redhawks clip Cavs in California Opener
IRVINE, Calif.—Loading the bases with no outs in the fourth and fifth innings, Simpson University scored all the runs it would need as the Redhawks withstood a late rally to defeat Concordia (Ore.) 5-4 in the first game of the NAIA Softball National Championships Opening Round on Monday.
With the win, No. 17-ranked Simpson(36-6) will move on to play the winner of Monday's afternoon match between No. 1-ranked Concordia (Calif.) and St. Thomas (Fla.). The No. 23-ranked Cavaliers will play the loser of that matchup at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
Concordia opened the game's scoring in the second inning as a leadoff double by
Kate Santos (Gladstone, Ore./Gladstone H.S.) turned into a score during a
Karissa Shiflet (Kennewick, Wash./Kennewick H.S.) at bat. Santos moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by
Mariah Jimenez (Camas, Wash./Camas H.S.) and immediately scored on a squeeze bunt by Shiflet where Santos slid head first to beat the throw at the plate.
Both teams were retired in order in the third before Simpson used three straight singles to load the bases in the fourth. Kara Wall led off the frame with a single to center while Courtney Thomas and Marissa Bravo-Barajas followed with infield singles to setup Cherie DeJesus, who drove a ball over the right-center fence for a grand slam and a 4-1 lead.
After forcing Concordia to strand two runners in the bottom of the fourth, Simpson returned to load the bases again in the fifth with a trio of singles to start the stanza. Concordia starter
McKenzie Marshall (Oregon City, Ore./Oregon City H.S.) notched a strikeout for the first out before a grounder back at the pitcher produced an RBI and the second out. Marshall got out of the inning with a liner to first.
In the sixth, Santos came back with her second double of the day but was left at third as Simpson starter Carlye Avey forced a pair of plays at second to end the threat.
The Cavs, however, placed the tying run on base in the seventh inning behind late home runs by
Meghan Luebbert (Sandy, Ore./Sandy H.S.) and
Cassidy Horner (Cottonwood, Calif./West Valley H.S.). Luebbert connected on her ninth home run of the season with a one-out line drive to center for a 5-2 deficit.
Katie Aden (Tigard, Ore./Tigard H.S.) followed with a single to center but was replaced by
Taylor Copher (Sandy, Ore./Sandy H.S.) at the bag with a grounder to short for the second out.
From there, Horner lifted her sixth homer of the spring to make it a 5-4 contest. After a walk to
Taylor Bussey (Vancouver, Wash./Prairie H.S.) to put the winning run at the plate, Simpson turned to reliever Paris Hallums who was able to thwart the comeback hopes with a first-pitch popup to third.
Simpson outhit Concordia 10 to 8 with three different players collected two hits each. Santos led the CU attack with a 3-for-4 performance.