From SGU Sports Info.
Brad Collins, Sports Information Director
SHAWNEE – Top-seeded St. Gregory’s hit on all cylinders in a 9-0 run-rule rout of IU Southeast (Ind.) Monday on the first day of the NAIA Opening Round at Firelake.
The Cavaliers, winners of 11 straight overall, advance to Tuesday’s noon winner’s bracket game against Park (Mo.). The third-seeded Pirated downed No. 2 seed Arizona Christian, 1-0, in the tournament’s opening game.
SGU (44-5) pounded out 12 hits in the five-inning contest, led by Sutv Meely’s 3-for-3 game. She had a triple and three runs scored. The Cavs also were dominant in the circle. Ashli Hafford (10-3) shut out the Grenadiers on two hits, striking out 10 against no walks.
The designated home team didn’t take long to go on top, plating three in the first on a Sammy Leisinger sac fly, a Hafford single and a wild pitch. SGU essentially put it away with a five-run third capped by a two-RBI triple from Samantha Plott. Hafford finished the scoring with a run-scoring single in the fourth.
Meely and Hafford were two of four Cavaliers to collect multi-hit games. Katie Godfrey finished 2-for-2 with a double. Maria Mercado Contreraswas 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Caroline Cato (13-5) suffered the loss for IUS (33-18) after giving up three runs on four hits over two innings. Emily Weiss and Hannah Veit accounted for the Grenadiers’ only two hits – back-to-back singles to lead off the third inning.