CLERMONT, Fla. – (Box Score) (Bracket) A two-out, three-RBI double by Chloe Clifton was the clincher and sent No. 4 Science & Arts (Okla.) to a 4-1 win over top-seed Georgia Gwinnett in a winner’s bracket game Monday at the NAIA Softball World Series. The 38th annual event is hosted by PFX Athletics for the second-straight year.
Up Next:
- Science & Arts (Okla.) stays undefeated and will take on the winner of No. 3 Marian (Ind.) / No. 10 Columbia (Mo.) Tuesday at 2 p.m. EDT in the winner’s bracket.
- With its first loss in the World Series, Georgia Gwinnett falls into the elimination round and will battle No. 2 seed Oklahoma City Tuesday at 10 a.m.
Key Turning Point of the Game:
- Chloe Clifton had the game-deciding hit with a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Drovers’ catcher took a 1-0 pitch to deep left-center to give her team a 4-1 lead.
- Prior to Clifton’s hit, the Drovers loaded the bases with nobody out. However, an illegally batted ball and force out left the game in the hands of Clifton.
Clutch Performer
- For the second-straight outing in the World Series, Science & Arts pitcher Emily Cerny was sparkling. Tonight, she went the distance giving up just two hits and one run. She walked four and struck out seven. The shutout was her 13th of the year.
- She moved to 31-4 on the year, which is tied for the most wins by a pitcher in the NAIA this year.
- In the 6-0 win last Friday, Emily Cerny allowed six hits and zero walks in the complete-game shutout. She fanned eight batters in that outing.
Game Notes:
- The game had a 3 hour, 50-minute delay due to heavy rains in the area. The game began at 3:45 p.m. EDT and resumed again at 9:05 p.m.
- After her bases-clearing double tonight, Chloe Clifton has now totaled six RBI in two World Series games for the Drovers. Her 74 season RBI is No. 3 in the NAIA.
- Randa Hatter led the game with two hits for Science & Arts. Her second inning home run gave the Drovers a 1-0 lead. Her 17 home runs is tied for sixth in the NAIA.
- Georgia Gwinnett was held to a season-low two hits. The Grizzlies entered the game No. 2 in the NAIA in batting average (.372).
- With a 2-0 mark this year, Science & Arts improves to 8-8 all-time in the World Series. The Drovers are playing in their fourth overall World Series and first since 2006.
- Playing in its first World Series, Georgia Gwinnet falls to 1-1 all-time.
- There have been six home runs hit by five different players in this World Series.
- The team scoring first through 11 games now is 8-3.
- The home team stands 4-7.
- The higher seeds now hold a 7-4 record thus far in the World Series.
