Oklahoma City, OKLA. - Simpson University began the Opening Round of the NAIA Championships in Oklahoma City with a 2-1 loss to Bellevue University.

The Red Hawks were able to strike first with an unearned run in the 1st inning. Amanda Laughlin stroked a one-out single, but was quickly forced out at second on Mia Olvera's grounder. Kayla Bailey quickly followed with a single to advance Olvera to second. Kaylana Mah then hit a sharply hit grounder that resulted in a wild throw where Olvera was able to come around to score the game's first run.

Hailee Nichols pitched extremely well for Simpson despite picking up the loss. Nichols faced just 10 batters in the first three innings and only gave up two hits in the first five innings. The Red Hawks defense struggled with two errors, one of which was in the sixth inning that would come around to score on a double from Erin Sharpe. Sharpe would then touch home on a single off the bat of Maddie Siedlik to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead.

Simpson had its chances to bring more runs across the board leaving the bases loaded in the 5th and 6th inning and had the tying run in scoring position in the 7th, but were unable to capitalize.

Nichols wound up throwing 6.0 innings, while only allowing four hits and one earned run, recording two punch outs before being relieved by Paris Hallums in th 7th. Madison Wright, Amanda Laughlin, Kayla Bailey, Kaylana Mah, and Missy Silveira all tallied one hit a piece for the Red Hawks in a contest where Simpson did not record an RBI.


With the loss, the Red Hawks snap a 13-game winning streak and will face elimination the rest of the way. Simpson must win four consecutive games to advance to the NAIA World Series. The journey begins tomorrow, May 16th, as Simpson faces the No. 4 seed Kansas Wesleyan at 1 pm (PT).