Columbia Hangs on against Two-Time Defending National Champion Oklahoma City

CLERMONT, Fla. – (Box Score) (Bracket) Pitcher Lexi Dickerson was strong through six-plus innings and the 10th-seeded Columbia Cougars held on late in the 6-4 win over two-time defending national champion and No. 2 seed Oklahoma City in a winner’s bracket game of the 2018 NAIA Softball World Series at Legends Way Ball Fields. The 38th annual event is hosted by PFX Athletics for the second-straight year.

Up Next:

• Columbia will play No. 3 Marian (Ind.) Monday at 5:30 p.m. EDT in the winner’s bracket.
• The loss pushes Oklahoma City into the elimination bracket and a 10 a.m. contest Monday against No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan.

Key Turning Point of the Game:

• After being relatively tamed through six innings, the Oklahoma City offense surged in the top of the seventh inning.
• Trailing 6-1 entering the last frame, Oklahoma City plated three runs on three hits and one error. The tying run was standing at second base when Jaci Smith flied out to deep right center field. Dakota Newton made an outstanding running catch to finish off the game.
• After sailing through six innings, Columbia pitcher Lexi Dickerson was pulled with one out and two runners on base. Kaitlyn Nottelmann entered in relief in the top of the seventh and gathered the final two outs to earn her first save of the year.

Clutch Performer

• Columbia pitcher Lexi Dickerson was firing on all cylinders until she ran into trouble in the seventh inning. She finished with four runs allowed (three earned) totaling one strikeout and two walks.
• She tallied 6.1 innings and earned the victory to move to 14-3 on the year.
• Entering the sixth inning, Dickerson gave up just one run on four hits.

Game Notes:

• Allyson Metz and Olivia Denslow led the nine-hit Columbia attack with two each. Each player also contributed two RBIs.
• Denslow was a key part of the four-run fourth inning for the Cougars that broke the game open. She recorded a two-RBI double.
• Seven different Oklahoma City players each posted a hit. Baileigh Loux had the team’s lone extra-base knock with a double in the final inning.
• Columbia improves to 19-34 all-time in its 17th World Series event.
• The Cougars are 2-0 in the World Series, winning their first two games in the event for the first time in school history (17 all-time trips).
• Oklahoma City falls to 125-46 all-time in its 31st World Series trip.
• The loss snaps Oklahoma City’s nine-game win streak in World Series action.
• Oklahoma City now falls to 5-3 in the all-time series against the Cougars in the World Series. The Stars still hold a 48-19 scoring advantage.
• The team scoring first through seven games now is 4-3.
• The home team is 3-4.
• The higher seeds now hold a 4-3 record thus far in the World Series.