Box Score TROUTVILLE, Va. – The third time was the charm for Campbellsville University Lady Tiger Softball, as CU avenged a pair of shutout losses in last week's Mid-East Regional with a 2-1 win over 10th seed Mississippi College to open the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Softball Championships.
With the win, CU (43-19) ties the 2013 Lady Tigers for the most single-season wins in program history.
CU will now take on No. 2 seed Oklahoma Christian University in the second round. The game with OC began at 10:05 a.m. EDT Thursday but was haulted due to heavy rain. The game is scheduled to resume Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. EDT.
Alyssa Barker gave CU a 1-0 lead in the top of the first but Oklahoma Christian tied, 1-1, it just before play was stopped. When play resumes, OC will be at bat with one out and a runner on second base.
Campbellsville 2, Mississippi 1 -- BOX SCORE
Campbellsville awoke early to travel from its hotel to the Botetourt Sports Complex for an 8 a.m. start in hopes to beat the rain. When the Lady Tigers arrived, they found a familiar foe in MC Choctaw pitcher Lacie Patterson waiting in the circle. Patterson held the Lady Tigers scoreless through the first two innings, running CU's streak to 21 innings without a run.
That all changed with a leadoff single by senior Alyssa Barker to start the third inning. Brittany Rippy bunted her around and she scored on an error by right fielder Bethany Fletcher after a single by Kristin Benton.
Mississippi College answered and tied the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the third with leadoff singles by Shay Mickens and Bethany Fletcher. KImmie Conley drove in Mickens with a single down the right field line.
The game remained knotted until K. Benton reached on an error to start the sixth. After stealing second, she was bunted to third by Shelby Ray. Moments later, Heather Oakley hit a two-out double to right-center to score K. Benton and punch Campbellsville's ticket to the second round.
CU starting pitcher Victoria Decker recorded her 18th win of the season, recording nine strikeouts and allowing seven hits and two walks. Patterson gave up six hits in the loss but did not give up an earned run for the third straight start against Campbellsville. Patterson went the distance (16 innings) in a pair of shutout wins over Campbellsville last week in the NCCAA Mid-East Region Tournament.
Barker led CU with two this on the day, followed by a hit each by K. Benton, Ray, Oakley and Erin Benton. Mickens led Mississippi College with two hits.
