Columbus, Ga. –The 2024 NAIA Softball World Series continued today at South Commons Softball Complex as two teams concluded play. On day two of the World Series, we had everything from extra innings, a run-rule game, defensive battles, and a slugfest while Jessup (Calif.) had a player break the Warriors’ all-time home run record.

Game 5: No. 4 Cumberlands (Ky.) def. No. 9 Georgia Gwinnett, 1-0 (8 Innings)

• Georgia Gwinnett looked to strike first to get the opening game of day two underway getting a pair of runners aboard, but a high fly ball to center field for a routine out left them stranded.
• Cumberlands (Ky.) got a base runner on with an infield bunt by Amber Gainer who then stole second, then advanced to third on the putout at first, but was then stranded just 60 feet away from home plate.
• The Grizzlies snuck a hit down the third base line to get the leadoff batter on with a standup double, but once again another runner was stranded on base.
• A single to left center field gets the Patriots offense started in the second, but a fielders choice on the next at-bat got the lead runner out a second as GGC catcher Angelica Gallegos threw a dart to second base for the second out of the inning.
• Morgan Radford led off in the bottom of the third with a single up the middle as Carly Oliver followed with another single through the left side to put runners on first and second.
• A fielders choice for the second out of the inning allowed Cumberlands (Ky.) to place runners on second and third as they looked to break this game open with one swing of the bat.
• Makenzie Keatts walked to load the bases with two outs, as the Patriots had the opportunity to break the tie, but a fly out to center field left the bases loaded as the game remained tied through three complete frames.
• It remained scoreless heading to the bottom of the fourth as GGC stranded their fourth runner on base of the game.
• Cumberlands (Ky.) loaded the bases with back-to-back calls reversed after head coach Bailey Dillender used her two allotted video reviews as the Patriots were down to their final out and looked to stay alive in the elimination bracket and break the scoring open, but a squid hit to second base, left the base path loaded as the game remained tied heading to the top of the sixth inning.
• A quick sixth inning for both teams kept the game at 0-0 as the Grizzlies had only two hits and the Patriots had six hits as the seventh inning got ready to get underway.
• For the first time in the 2024 World Series, UC and GGC head to extra innings as base runners in the final two innings were scarce.
• Talli Burgess opened extra inning play with her second, third, and fourth strikeouts of the game to keep the bases clear and go in order as Burgess stuck them all out looking, as they looked to walk it off in the bottom of the eighth.
• In the bottom of the inning Jade Gainer found a gap in left-center to lead things off for the Patriots.
• Makenzie Keatts laid a sac bunt down to push Gainer to third as UC looked to win the game in walk-off fashion, which they were able to do with the next batter in Amber Atkins with an RBI single up the middle for the 1-0 victory in eight innings to keep their season alive.

Game 6: No. 10 Southern Oregon def. No. 3 Central Methodist (Mo.), 3-2

• Southern Oregon opened the second game of the day with only one hit as Central Methodist (Mo.) made quick work of the Raiders to get on the bats for their first time in the game.
• CMU quickly loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back singles, and a walk from Madison White as they looked to break the game open with one out.
• The Eagle struck first on a bases-loaded walk for the 1-0 lead as Raider pitcher Katie Machado walked her second straight batter.
• CMU kept the bases loaded with only one out as Madison Roberts singled up the middle to score the second run of the game before SOU got out of the inning with a 6-3 double play.
• The Raiders leadoff batter, Jordan Henderson responded right away with her at-bat to cut the margin in half with a solo shot over the wall in left field.
• A quiet second and third inning from both sides, held the score at 2-1 Eagles lead as three complete frames were now in the books.
• The CMU offense woke up in the bottom of the fourth inning as Lauren Hill hit a stand-up double to left center and Carly Robbins laid down a textbook perfect bunt to push Hill to third base.
• The following play, Hill was thrown out at home on the fielders choice as the Eagles were kept off the scoreboard with two outs and a runner on first, but was unable to bring her around as they left her stranded.
• Southern Oregon tied the ball game up in the top of the fifth as Faith Moultrie singled up the middle, which allowed Hailey Seva to score from second. Moultrie then advanced to second on the throw home as the Raiders tied the game up at 2-2.
• SOU once again stepped to the plate in the top of the sixth inning as Kami Klapp scored an unearned run to lead CMU 3-2.
• The Raiders continued to battle even on the defensive side as Daly Garland hit into a 6-4-3 double play to trail by one run as they headed into the seventh inning. The umpires called their own video review of the inning-ending double play, that was upheld just moments later.
• SOU looked to get another insurance run in the seventh before they stranded a pair on the bases, but it was CMU who threatened in the bottom of the inning with bases loaded.
• Sarah Kerling in center field with two outs on the board made the final out to leave the Eagles on the bags for the 3-2 victory as they advance to game 10 tomorrow at 1 p.m. EST.

Game 7: No. 7 Jessup (Calif.) def. No. 2 Oklahoma City, 11-2 (5 innings)

• The Stars of Oklahoma City went down in order to open their play in the World Series as Jessup (Calif.) stepped to the plate for a chance to light the scoreboard up first.
• After a leadoff single from Madisyn Leffle was later erased as OCU catcher Amy Crabaugh threw down to second to keep Leffle from swiping second.
• The Warriors stayed calm as Maddy Ybarra walked before a fielders’ choice allowed both Sarah Giles and Ybarra to be safe on first and second.
• After a double steal from Giles and Ybarra, Sam Lorge sent a no-doubter over the left field wall to give the Warriors the early 3-0. The Stars retired the side shortly after with a pop-up to short to get back on the bats.
• Another big hit from the Warriors pushed their lead to 5-0 with the first triple of the World Series off the bat of Ybarra, which came with two outs.
• After a pair of hard-hit foul balls from Giles, she connected with one and sent it over the left field wall for the Warriors second home run of the game with two outs to lead Oklahoma City 7-0 after just two complete frames.
• Giles homerun marked the 31^st of her career as she is now the all-time home run leader for Jessup (Calif.) softball.
• OCU recorded their first hit of the game in the top of the third from Crabaugh. The second base runner of the game for the Stars followed as Tiffany Paul took a walk to first.
• The Stars left a pair of runners stranded in the top of the third as JU held onto the shutout lead of 7-0.
• For the first time in the game, Jessup (Calif.) went down in order with a pop to short, flyout to left field, and a strikeout, as OCU continued to trail JU 7-0 after three.
• In the top of the fourth, OCU got on the board after the throw to third base was off the mark to cut the deficit to six as the Stars post runners on second and third as a result of the error.
• The sac fly to center field from Tara Hoehner allowed Baileigh Loux to casually stroll home for the second run of the game as Emersen Heron tagged and beat the throw to third.
• Terra Goetz made the second out of the inning look easy as she just stuck her glove out and caught the line drive back to her.
• Ybarra showed off some hops for the third out of the inning to keep the Stars to only two runs while they stranded a runner on third as Jessup (Calif.) continued to lead 7-2.
• After being held scoreless in the bottom of the third inning, the Warriors leadoff batter walked to second, before Olivia Dominguez doubled to third.
• Jessup (Calif.) platted their eighth run of the game on a single through the right side that allowed Neva Adams to stroll through home plate and push their lead to 8-2.
• The Warriors continued to pile on the runs in the bottom of the fourth as Giles laced a two-RBI double to center field to extend their lead to 11-2.
• After another four-run inning for the Warriors, they left bases loaded on a groundout to first base as the OCU offense headed back to the plate.
• In the top of the fifth, the Warriors faced three OCU batters, and got three outs; a ground out to third, second, and back to third base to collect the victory 11-2 in five innings.

Game 8: No. 1 Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) def. No. 8 Madonna (Mich.), 3-0

• Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) was off to a hot start in the nightcap of day two as three batters stepped to the plate and three outs were recorded. Reagon Finkbeiner walked, but on her steal attempt of second base, she was called out for leaving the bag early.
• Cassandra Valdez got the Saints rolling on offense with a leadoff single up the middle before moving to second base on a sac bunt by Madison Garza.
• Madonna (Mich.) made quick work of the inning despite not having a traditional double play, Bailey Martin came up with the reaction grab on the line drive to her then threw a heater to second base where shortstop Ashley Rosiewicz was waiting for the tag to get the Crusaders out of the inning.
• MU stranded one runner on base in the top of the second, while OLLU loaded the bases with their first three batters of the inning.
• The Saints looked to strike first in the game on a sac bunt, but the Crusaders were on top of it, as MU flipped it home to get the runner out at the plate for the second out of the game before the hot corner of third base grabbed the line drive for the third out.
• Madonna (Mich.) thought they were going to sneak a runner to third base after the full count walk, but the Saints catcher Alyssa Flores read the scouting report and threw down to third base to get the final out of the inning as the score remained tied at 0-0.
• In what turned into a highlight reel of a game by the bottom of the fourth inning, OLLU shortstop Alyssa Garcia made a diving catch for the second out of the inning to keep runners off the base path.
• OLLU broke the deadlock with a blooper to shallow left field as Marissa Bradley hit the double allowing Kayla Dreese to score for the 1-0 lead over Madonna (Mich.).
• Both pitchers dueled in the fifth inning as there was only one hit between the two teams as the Saints continued to lead 1-0.
• With five outs left in the game for Madonna (Mich.), they placed two runners on the base paths for the first time all game, but they were stranded there as Valdez kept calm and continued to keep the Crusaders off the board to lead 1-0.
• OLLU doubled their lead in the sixth inning as Marissa Bradley hit a sac fly to deep left field allowing Ava Hernandez to score for the 2-0 lead with one out.
• The Saints ripped a stand-up double down the left field line off as pinch hitter Bradi Hill scored Kayla Dreese to push their lead to 3-0 on two hits.
• Madonna (Mich.) made a push in the final inning with two outs, a pair of runners on base, and the tying run at the plate, but a soft hit grounder back to Valdez sealed the deal for the Saints as they grabbed the 3-0 win.

Four more games will be played tomorrow at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. all in eastern time zone. The day’s first game tomorrow will be in the elimination bracket as No. 2 Oklahoma City will battle for their life in the World Series against No. 4 Cumberlands (Ky.). Game two at 1 p.m. will feature No. 10 Southern Oregon vs. No. 8 Madonna (Mich.) as both teams also battle to stay alive and remain in Columbus. In the afternoon slate, we move to the championship bracket as No. 1 Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) will battle No. 5 Oregon Tech for a spot in Monday’s championship bracket semifinal. The nightcap will play host to two teams who are red hot right now as No. 6 Science & Arts (Okla.) will square off against No. 7 Jessup (Calif.) for the last spot in Monday night’s championship bracket semifinal.

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