Eagles Rally but Pilots Win

GULF SHORES, Ala. – Asbury finally crossed the plate but it was not enough as they fell to Bethel (Ind.) College 11-4 in Pool D action at the 2011 NAIA Softball National Championship on Friday afternoon.  The Eagles scored for the first time in five games over two years at the event.

Miranda Drury drove in three with a fifth inning two-out double to right-center.  Kendall Ratchford, Sarah Patrick and Mary Ann Warford all came around to score.  Ratchford finished the day with a pair of hits and a walk.  Drury would be lifted for pinch-runner Jessica Huston who would score on an error by shortstop Courtney Cazarez on a ball off the bat of Emily Ethington.  That cut the Pilots’ lead to 6-4.

Bethel (38-7) answered in the bottom of the frame with two runs of their own, one scoring on a groundout and another on their second hit of the inning.  The Pilots scored in every inning but the fourth, and pounded out 12 hits.  Asbury (20-12) collected five hits in the game which was one more than they had two years ago in the entire tournament.

Jessica Johnson took the loss for the Eagles after 2.2 innings of eight hit, six run ball.  She drops to 4-4 on the season.  Katie Boocher improves to 17-4 for Bethel after allowing four hits and four runs and striking out nine in five innings.

In other Pool D action on Friday Cal State-San Marcos shutout Morningside 5-0 behind Brenna Sandberg’s no-hitter.

Asbury falls to 0-2 in pool play and will finish the tournament on Saturday morning at 12:30 pm eastern time against Morningside who is also 0-2 in the tournament.  Bethel will finish with Cal State-San Marcos on Friday at 5:30 pm.