SB Opening Round recaps

2014 NAIA Softball Opening Round National Championship

Monday, May 12

Game 1: No. 2 Central Methodist 12, No. 3 Columbia College 2   (5 Innings) - Box Score
Columbia, Mo. - The Cougar Softball team was unable to hold down a potent Central Methodist University offense on Monday afternoon as the Eagles pulled away for a 12-2 five inning victory in the Columbia bracket’s first game of the 2014 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round. The Cougars, the No. 3 seed in the bracket, drop to 30-17 on the season with the loss.

The Cougars struck for a pair of runs in the first inning against Heart of America Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year Aubrey Utley as Marli Hayes delivered an RBI double and came around to score on a throwing error by the Eagles. The Central Methodist offense threatened to produce a big inning of their own in the bottom of the first against Columbia starter Taylor Richter. The Eagles would load the bases with two outs after Richter’s third walk of the inning, but the senior would battle back to strike out Megan Robbins to end the inning and strand the bases loaded. After a scoreless top of the second for the Cougars, CMU took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the frame against Richter and reliever Amber Boehme. The Eagles extended their lead out to 9-2 with a run in the third and five in the fourth against four different Columbia pitchers. Central Methodist would plate three runs in the bottom of the fifth to cap off the ten-run victory and improve to 42-6 on the season.

Utley (25-1) allowed two unearned runs in five innings and struck out four to pick up the win for the Eagles, who finished with 11 hits in the game. Lindie Adair had two hits and four RBI in the contest, including the game-ending three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth. Richter (4-4) took the loss in the circle for the Cougars, who were held to four hits on the afternoon.

The Cougars will continue play tomorrow with an elimination game at 1:30 p.m. against the loser of No. 1 seed LSU-Alexandria and No. 4 seed Morningside (Iowa) College. The winner of the LSUA-Morningside game will advance to play Central Methodist at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. There will also be an elimination game at 4:00 p.m. between the loser of the 11:00 a.m. game and the winner of the 1:30 p.m. contest. All games will be held at Columbia’s Antimi Black Softball Field. For the complete tournament bracket and latest results, visit this link.

Game 2: No. 1 LSU-Alexandria 3, No. 4 Morningside 2 - Box Score
Columbia, Mo. - In the second opening round game of the Columbia bracket, top seed LSU-Alexandria rallied from a 2-0 deficit over the final two innings for a 3-2 walk-off victory over No. 4 seed Morningside (Iowa) College on Monday afternoon.

Morningside (30-13) took a 2-0 lead after a solo home run by Kristina Neumann in the top of the fifth inning. The Lady Generals of LSUA battled back to tie the score with two runs in the sixth and plated the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a ground ball to first by Kaylee Prather that brought home Alexes Sepulvado. Logan Hebert (18-0) earned the complete game win after allowing two runs on six hits over seven innings.

LSU-Alexandria (33-3) advances to play No. 2 seed Central Methodist at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Morningside will take on No. 3 seed Columbia in an elimination game at approximately 1:30 pm. There will also be an elimination game at 4:00 p.m. between the loser of the 11:00 a.m. game and the winner of the 1:30 p.m. contest. All games will be held at Columbia’s Antimi Black Softball Field. For the complete tournament bracket and latest results, visit this link.

Tuesday, May 13

Game 3: No. 1 LSU-Alexandria 7, No. 2 Central Methodist 3 - Box Score
Columbia, Mo. - Top seed LSU-Alexandria advanced to the championship game of the Columbia bracket with a 7-3 comeback victory over No. 2 seed Central Methodist on Tuesday afternoon.

The Lady Generals (34-3) trailed 3-0 entering the bottom of the fifth, but erupted for seven runs over the next two innings to pull away for the win. Taylor Simon had two hits and three RBI to lead the LSUA offense, which finished with 14 hits against Eagles starter Aubrey Utley (25-2) and reliever Bri Ford. Lady Generals starter Kaycee Spears (13-3) struck out six over seven innings to earn the complete game win.

LSU-Alexandria will return to the diamond tomorrow for the bracket championship game at noon. The Lady Generals will play the winner of Tuesday’s 5:00 p.m. elimination game, where Central Methodist (42-7) will take on the winner of Columbia and Morningside. All games will be held at Columbia’s Antimi Black Softball Field. For the complete tournament bracket and latest results, visit this link.

Game 4: No. 3 Columbia College 6, No. 4 Morningside 5 - Box Score
Columbia, Mo. - The third-seeded Columbia Cougars held off a late rally from No. 4 seed Morningside (Iowa) College for a 6-5 victory in the Tuesday's first elimination game of the Columbia bracket. With the win, Columbia improves to 31-17 and advances to play No. 2 seed Central Methodist. The season ends for Morningside with a record of 30-14.

The Cougars scored in each of the first four innings to take a 6-2 lead against Morningside as Brittiany Tjarks and Jamie Holmes each contributed an RBI double in a three-run third inning for Columbia. Kayla Salonen would connect on a three-run home run in the top half of the fifth to cut the Cougar advantage to 6-5. Paxton Welch came in to relieve Columbia starter Lauren McCroskie with one out in the fifth and shut out the Mustangs over the final 2.2 innings to preserve the victory and pick up the save for the Cougars. Kristin Eiken paced the Columbia offense with two hits and two RBI, while Jamie Holmes and Whitni Howell also collected two hits apiece. McCroskie (7-6) allowed five runs on eight hits and struck out two to earn the win in the circle.

Game 5: No. 2 Central Methodist vs. No. 3 Columbia College - Box Score
Columbia, Mo. - No. 2 seed Central Methodist bounced back from a loss to top seed LSU-Alexandria for a 4-2 victory over No. 3 seed Columbia on Tuesday night in the 2014 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round. The Eagles improve to 43-7 with the win, while the Cougars finish the 2014 season with a mark of 31-18.

Columbia plated the game’s first run in the top of the second inning as Eiken scored on a passed ball by CMU catcher Michelle Rupard. The Eagles battled back to take the lead on a pair of solo home runs in the bottom of the third by Lindy Adair and Bri Boatwright. Trailing 2-1, the Cougars were able to even the score on a two-out RBI single by Kaylee Brueggeman in the top of the fourth. The tie score would hold up until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Central Methodist cleanup hitter Lauren Geringer launched a two-run home run to left field for a 4-2 Eagles lead. Columbia mounted one more rally in the top of the seventh as Carly Spalding and Marli Hayes reached base to bring the go-ahead run to the plate with one out. After a fielder’s choice by Taylor Atwood, Eiken came to the plate and fouled off several pitches before flying out to deep right field to seal the win for the Eagles.

Aubrey Utley (26-2) earned her second complete game victory over the Cougars in as many days after giving up two runs over seven innings. Central Methodist finished with seven hits in the game, including the three home runs by Adair, Boatwright, and Geringer. Richter (4-5) suffered the tough-luck loss in her final game for Columbia, allowing four runs on seven hits in six innings of work.

The Eagles (43-7) advance to Wednesday’s championship game for a rematch with LSU-Alexandria. First pitch is set for noon with an if-necessary game scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Columbia’s Antimi Black Softball Field. For the complete tournament bracket and latest results, visit this link.

Game 6: No. 1 LSU-Alexandria 6, No. 2 Central Methodist 1 - Box Score
Columbia, Mo. - LSU-Alexandria completed a perfect run through the Columbia Bracket and the NAIA Opening Round with a 6-1 victory over Central Methodist on Monday afternoon. With the win, the Lady Generals advance to the 2014 NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Georgia.

LSUA (35-3) seized control with a three-run first second inning, that included a two-run double by Heather Bunn. The Lady Generals also scored in the third, fourth, and sixth innings to take a commanding 6-1 lead. LSUA starting pitcher Logan Hebert (19-0) retired the final 15 Eagles hitters to earn her second complete game victory in three days after allowing just one run on three hits. Bunn added a double and solo home run to finish a perfect 3 for 3 with three RBI on the day.

The 34th annual NAIA World Series will take place from May 23-29 at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Georgia.