From SGU Sports Info.
Brad Collins, Sports Information Director
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Third-seeded St. Gregory’s kept its season alive with a come-from-behind victory over No. 7 seed and host Morningside (Iowa) Saturday at the NAIA Softball World Series. After trailing by four runs late, the Cavaliers used a big sixth inning to rally for a 9-6 win before 500 mostly maroon-clad Mustang fans.
SGU (47-6) advances to play either Oklahoma City or Marian (Ind.) in a 1 p.m. elimination contest Monday.
Trailing 6-2 in the sixth, the Cavaliers sent 12 hitters to the plate as part of a seven-run inning. With the bases loaded and one out, SGU’s Janely Cruz started the rally with a two-RBI double. Samantha Plott followed with a run-scoring single to center to make it 6-5.
Jessica Nelson then doubled down the right-field line to plate two and give the Cavs a lead they wouldn’t squander. Sutv Meely and Katie Godfrey added RBI singles later in the inning to make it a three-run advantage.
The homestanding Mustangs got the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but Bryn Houlton came on in relief to record the final two outs and pick up her third save of the season.
The four-run comeback marked the largest at the World Series since May 19, 2012, when Webber International (Fla.) scored eight runs in bottom of the sixth to defeat Thomas (Ga.) by the same 9-6 count.
Meely led all SGU hitters with a 4-for-4 game. She is now 13-for-18 with eight runs scored since the NAIA Opening Round began on May 16. Godfrey finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and Cruz was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs batted in.
Ashli Hafford improved to 12-3 after giving up five earned runs on eight hits over 6-1/3 innings. She struck out three and walked one.