NAIA Softball Opening Round Set for Hattiesburg, May 11-14
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — William Carey University will host the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round from May 11 to 14 at Joseph & Nancy Fail Field. The event features 10 sites across the country, with 29 automatic qualifiers and 15 at-large bids, according to the NAIA.
The Lady Crusaders (39-12) earned an automatic bid after winning the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament. They are led by Jayden Sawyer, who was named SSAC Player, Pitcher, and Newcomer of the Year. Sawyer boasts a 22-3 record, a 0.80 ERA, and 232 strikeouts. She also hits .342 with 38 RBIs and a .598 slugging percentage.
Other top players include First Team All-SSAC selections Ryanne Hornsby, who has a 12-4 record and a 1.96 ERA, and Liz Cross, who leads the team with a .387 batting average and 25 RBIs. Kinley Hogue, also a First Team All-SSAC, is batting .370 with a .630 slugging percentage.
Georgia Gwinnett (29-22), making its 11th consecutive postseason appearance, secured its spot by sweeping the Continental Athletic Conference tournament. The Grizzlies aim for their fourth straight NAIA World Series appearance. Sophomore Casey Beaver leads with a .415 batting average and 36 stolen bases, while senior Sara Roussel hits .399 with 31 RBIs. Senior pitcher Kailyn Berry has a 15-5 record with a 2.13 ERA and was named CAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Freshman Tatum Helsom, CAC Freshman of the Year, has 11 wins and 82 strikeouts.
Coastal Georgia received an at-large bid from The Sun Conference. Rylee Mills leads with a .396 batting average and 15 doubles, while posting a 20-6 record as a pitcher. Rily Andrews has four home runs and 42 RBIs, and Kaitlyn Carolino has scored 52 runs. Emilia Clemons, a pitcher, has a 12-3 record in 23 games.
Columbia College (27-13) earned its bid as the American Midwest Conference Tournament champion. Led by AMC Pitcher of the Year Ella Schouten, a two-time NAIA All-American, the team boasts a 1.10 ERA and 184 strikeouts. Taryn Hargadt leads offensively with a .415 batting average, while Abigail Zismer hits .410 with 30 RBIs. Marian University, making its 11th consecutive and 13th overall appearance, received an at-large bid. Abby Madere leads with a .413 batting average and 60 RBIs, while Abbey Hoffman hits .404 with 37 RBIs. Macy Coen, the team’s top pitcher, has a 17-4 record and 91 strikeouts.
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