Oklahoma City, OKLA. - Simpson University softball continues its journey in the Opening Round of NAIA Softball Championship with a 7-0 victory over Bellevue University.
Courtney Dunn was in control from the opening pitch as she dealt her 5th career complete game shutout and recorded her 11th win on the season. The freshman struck out seven batters only allowing four hits without walking a Bellevue batter.
Simpson bats again came to life early on as they scored two runs in the top half of the first after
Madison Wright led off with a single and a stolen base before coming around to touch home on a
Kayla Bailey sacrifice fly.
Mia Olvera, who singled earlier in the inning, wound up scoring on a double from
Kaylana Mah.
In the top of the second, the Red Hawks would pick up right where the left off in the first with two consecutive singles from
Jessica Dager and
Jaycie Bruno.
Missy Silveira then sacrificed herself with a gorgeous bunt moving the runners to 2nd and 3rd with one out. Another sac fly from Simpson, this time from
Madison Wright, that would bring Dager in from third and give Simpson a 3-0 advantage. Laughlin was unable to add on with a ground out to 3rd.
The Red Hawks went down quietly in the 3rd and 4th, but woke up the bats once again in the 5th. Simpson loaded the bases with one out without recording a hit for
Kayla Bailey, who came through again with a single to score a run. The Red Hawks hottest hitter, Kaylana Mah followed Bailey's single with a two run triple to break the lead open to 6-0.
Simpson would add an insurance run in the 7th off another RBI from
Kayla Bailey as she brought in
Amanda Laughlin on a double extending the lead to 7-0.
Kailey Bailey and
Kaylana Mah were the main catalysts in both of Simpson's wins today, combining for nine hits and 11 RBIs on the day. Mah also had a pair of web gems, getting Dunn out of trouble in the 3rd with a double play.
Simpson advances to the final of the Opening Round of the NAIA Softball Championship to take on host, Oklahoma City University, beginning tomorrow at 10 am PT. The Red Hawks will have to win both games to advance to the NAIA World Series.
