DECATUR, Ala. -- Storms passing through the south have forced Friday's games in the NAIA Softball National Championship to be cancelled. Play resumes for Lindsey Wilson College at 9:30 a.m. CT on Saturday against Concordia (Ore.) University at the Wilson Morgan Softball Complex.
The third game of pool play against Bellevue (Neb.) University is scheduled for noon on Monday.
Concordia (35-5) needed nine innings to sneak by Bellevue (Neb.) University on Thursday. The Cavs should have had an easier time beating Bellevue with a two-run home run by Kyndell Andrews, but two passed-ball errors allowed the Braves to tie the game and force the extra frames.
The Cavs opened the decisive ninth inning with a single by Andrews, who was moved to second on a bunt by Courtney Wooden. Bellevue registered the second out of the inning on a pop up before intentionally walking lead-off hitter Kayla Vickaryous.
With two runners on base and two outs, Concordia got a single from Mallory Callahan that was bobbled by the Braves' shortstop, allowing Andrews to turn the corner at third base and beat a throw to the plate for the walk-off win.
A loss against Concordia on Friday would mathematically eliminate Lindsey Wilson (45-14) from advancing past pool play, while a win would even it with the Cavs at 1-1. Simon Fraser - who beat Lindsey Wilson 2-0 on Thursday - plays Bellevue at 2:30 p.m. on Friday.
Concordia claimed the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship and was awarded the league's automatic bid to the NAIA Championship. The Cavs are making their third appearance at the national championship (2001, 2010) and hold a 1-2 record in tournament play.
The Cavs dominated the major awards given out by the CCC as shortstop Ali Paz earned Player and Newcomer of the Year honors. Renee Santos was named the conference Pitcher of the Year, while Carrie Kosderka-Farrell is the Coach of the Year.
Paz - who was also named to the All-CCC Team - leads the Cavs with a .406 batting average with six home runs and 36 RBIs.
Santos enters Friday with a 15-3 record in the circle with 208 strikeouts and a 1.55 ERA. Through 117.2 innings pitched, Santos has thrown eight shutouts and 13 complete games, while allowing opposing batters to hit just .152.
Kosderka-Farrell is in her seventh season as head coach at Concordia and - like Lindsey Wilson coach Ashley McCool - is making her first coaching appearance at the NAIA Championship.
Click here for the 2010 NAIA Softball Championship web site.
Click here for live stats for the entire championship.
