NAIA Opening Round Schedule/Results
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. -- Simpson (Calif.) University gained revenge Tuesday, ending the Bellevue University softball team's season with a 7-0 shutout in an elimination game at the NAIA National Championship Opening Round (Oklahoma City Bracket) at Ann Lacy Stadium.
Bellevue defeated Simpson, 2-1, to open the tournament on Monday.
The Bruins end their season with a 50-16 overall record. The Red Hawks improved to 45-9 on the season and will meet No. 1-ranked Oklahoma City University in the championship game at noon on Wednesday.
Hannah Carter, Maddie Siedlik, Sayde Woten, and Michaela Miller each collected a hit in the loss.
Kayla Bailey and Kaylana Mah drove in three runs apiece to pace the Red Hawk offense.
After giving up two runs on three hits in the top of the first, starting pitcher Erin Sharpe was replaced by Kelli Fisher. Bailey with a sacrifice fly to center and Mah with an RBI double to deep right-center field both drove in runs in the opening inning, giving Simpson an early 2-0 lead.
A sacrfice fly to center field by Madison Wright scored Jessica Dager to give the Red Hawks a 3-0 margin in the top of the second.
SU added three runs in the top of the fifth on an RBI single down the left-field line by Bailey and on a two-run triple to center by Mah.
The Red Hawks made it 7-0 in the top of the seventh with an RBI double to left field by Bailey, scoring Amanda Laughlin.
Courtney Dunn notched the complete-game shutout, improving to 10-0 on the season, scattering four hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in seven innings in the circle.
Sharpe (12-2) suffered the loss, giving up three hits and two runs in 2/3 of an inning.
Notes:
The 50 wins this season were the second-most in school history. The 2000 team finished with a 56-12 record.
Michala Cimino completed her 8th season leading the Bruin softball program. She has amassed an overall record of 311-130-1 (705). She is the winningest coach in school history in terms of winning percentage and second in total victories.
