MOBILE FIGHTS OUT OF LOSER’S BRACKET TO
FORCE THE “IF NECESSARY” GAME
DECATUR,
Ala. – At the 23rd
Annual NAIA Softball National Championships at Wilson Morgan
Park in Decatur, Alabama, the University of Mobile (Ala.)
(55-6-1) won three games on the day to rise from the loser’s
bracket and defeat the No. 2 seeded Simon Fraser University
(36-4) 2-1 to force a second championship game in the
tournament.
Simon Fraser
scored the first run of the day in the top of the fourth inning
on a home run by Danica Payette (1-for-3). The University of
Mobile then scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to take
the lead for the game. Marie Soto (1-for-3) led off the inning
with a single to start the Rams rally. Meredith Tanner
(2-for-2) then hit a two-run double to score both Soto and
Denisse Fuenmayor.
NAIA Pitcher
of the Year Missy Passley improves her record to 29-5 on the
season. In seven complete innings, Passley struck out six
batters and allowed only five hits while walking just one
batter. In the tournament Passley has compiled a 3-1 record,
pitching 24.0 innings with 33 strikeouts.
All-American
Auburn Sigurdson suffered the loss for the Clan of Simon Fraser
and drops her record to 18-3 on the season. Sigurdson struck
out seven batters while walking two.
To advance
to the championship game, Mobile had to win three games on the
day. Mobile defeated Point Loma Nazarene University (Cal.) 4-2,
University of Mary (N.D.) 5-2, and Olivet Nazarene University
(Ill.) 1-0.
Mobile and
Simon Fraser will now play another contest to determine the 2003
NAIA National Champion.
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