NAIA National Championship Opening Round–Dodge City, Kan.

 

DODGE CITY, Kan  (uj.edu)-– The University of Jamestown softball team stayed alive in loser-out play Tuesday afternoon, defeating Oklahoma Wesleyan 4-0, but had their season end with a 3-2 loss to Midland (Neb.) in the NAIA Opening Round Dodge City Bracket.

The Jimmies knocked Oklahoma Wesleyan (29-21) out of the tournament with a 4-0 win. UJ scored three times in the second inning and added another run in the third.

Tifani Schorzman (SR/Coeur d’Alene, ID) and Kassi Ward (FR/Olympia, WA) drew back-to-back walks to open the second. A sacrifice bunt from Meghan Ramage (JR/Grand Forks, ND) moved the runners up one base each, then Kelly Halverson (JR/Surrey, BC) doubled to left for a 2-0 lead. Sydney Prussia (FR/Detroit Lakes, MN) traded places with Halverson after a double of her own, and the Jimmies led 3-0.

In the next inning, Mikayla Frost (SO/Melba, ID) led off with a single. Frost stole second and came home on Morgan Geiszler (FR/Horace, ND)’s double.

Kat Miska (FR/Pequot Lakes, MN) (16-4) allowed just two hits in her fourth shutout of the season. Payton Langley singled in the third and Jayci Wang reached on a bunt single in the seventh. Oklahoma Wesleyan was no-hit in their game Monday against Science & Arts (Okla.) and were just 2-of-45 at the plate in two games. Miska struck out eight and did not issue a walk. She finished the year with 172 strikeouts, the second-most by a Jimmie pitcher in a single season.

Abbey Ely (14-10) took the loss for the Eagles. She went the first three innings, allowing four runs on four hits. Ely walked three and struck out three. Ashleigh Capps worked the final four innings and gave up just one hit.

With the win, the Jimmies advanced to a rematch with Midland (Neb.), who lost 7-4 in nine innings to Science & Arts in Tuesday’s first game.

The Warriors struck for three runs in the bottom of the second. With two outs, Nicole O’Haver doubled down the left field line to clear the bases.

Jamestown was shut out until the top of the sixth. Tifani Schorzman led off with a single and was replaced with pinch-runner Emma Gilbert (SO/Kelowna, BC). Kassi Ward doubled to deep right center field, scoring Gilbert to make it 3-1. After a Meghan Ramage single, the Jimmies had runners on the corners for pinch-hitter Tiffany Buis (SO/New Lenox, IL). Buis reached on a fielder’s choice as Ward crossed the plate.

Madison Plummer (11-4) was the winning pitcher for Midland (36-16). She pitched five innings, allowing two runs on six hits. Jaylee Hinrichs worked the final two innings to earn her second save. Hinrichs gave up one hit and struck out one.

Brittany Rheault (SR/West Fargo, ND) (15-4) went 4 1/3 innings for UJ, giving up three unearned runs on five hits. She struck out two and walked two. Kat Miska went 1 2/3 innings, striking out one.

Ward was 2-for-3 to lead Jamestown. Emma Keller (SR/Poulsbo, WA), Morgan Geiszler, and Miriah Yoder (JR/Devils Lake, ND) also had hits for the Jimmies.

O’Haver had two hits for Midland, and four other Warriors recorded one hit each.

Jamestown finishes the season 44-10, setting a record for most wins in a season. 2018 marked the second straight year and third season overall with 40 or more wins.

Midland and Science & Arts (52-5) meet in the bracket championship Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. If Midland wins, the second championship game is set for 1:00 p.m. The winner of the bracket will advance to the 38th annual NAIA Softball World Series May 25-31 in Clermont, Fla.