The Dordt University softball team fell to No.6 Southern Oregon 3-1 in game three of the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round - Ashland Bracket played today at Laurel Park.Â
The Defenders, who defeated Ottawa-Arizona 2-0 in game one played earlier in the day, hold a 1-1 record in the bracket and will play in an elimination game on Tuesday, May 12 at 6pm (CST) against the winner of #3 seed Saint Francis (Ind.) or #5 seed Ottawa-Arizona.
Dordt is now 40-13 on the season; Southern Oregon, the No.1 seed in the bracket and the defending national champions, is 1-0 in the bracket, 42-13 overall.Â
Chloe Kreuz put the Defenders in front 1-0 in the top of the first inning when she hit a lead-off triple and scored on a passed ball.Â
Dordt continued to lead until the bottom of the third inning when Southern Oregon pushed across all three of its runs. Following a groundout to start the inning, the Raiders mounted three consecutive singles, the later of which was hit by Ari Williams that plated Vanessa Lang and tied the game at 1-1. Avery Coffin followed with a two-out, two-run double, scoring Williams and Brooke Nordahl for a 3-1 advantage.Â
The Defenders had two runners on-base and the go-ahead run at the plate in both the sixth and seventh innings but were unable to capitalize on their scoring opportunities.Â
Rylee Yager (19-9), the winning pitcher in game one, took the loss against Southern Oregon, giving up eight hits and three earned runs in six innings. The freshman walked two and struck out four.Â
Dordt's offense was held in check by the host Raiders as they totaled four hits, two singles from Yager, a triple by Kreuz and a single from Tera Lynn Price.Â
Southern Oregon totaled eight hits, seven singles and the go-ahead, 2-run double by Coffin. Both Kalea Thomas and Vanessa Lang led the way with two hits each.
Ayla Davies (24-7), the 2025 NAIA Pitcher of the Year and returning All-American, gave up four hits, one run and struck out six in earning the win for the Raiders.
Notes:Â
- this was the third and final game on day one of the five team, Ashland Bracket
- today's game was the first match-up ever played between Southern Oregon and Dordt
- this is the second appearance for the Defenders at the championship (2001)
- Yager has hit safely in seven consecutive games
- Kreuz extended her hit streak to four games
- Price extended her hit streak to three games
- Dordt is one of three teams from the GPAC to earn a spot in the 48-team, championship field
- Midland is 1-0 in the Fayette, Mo. bracket (def. Central Methodist 5-4)
- Morningside is 1-1 in the Chickasha, Okla. bracket (def. Friends 1-0, lost to USAO 9-1)
- Southern Oregon is the defending national champion (def. Oklahoma City) and has won three of the last five NAIA softball titles
