KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — Dickinson State kept its season alive Tuesday, using a six-run fourth inning and three scoreless innings from Reannan Butler to defeat Arizona Christian 7-3 in an elimination game at the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round at Stilwell Stadium.
The fifth-seeded Blue Hawks improved to 42-13 and advanced to Wednesday's elimination game against No. 11 Our Lady of the Lake (Tex.), the No. 2 seed in the Klamath Falls Bracket. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. MT. Arizona Christian, the No. 4 seed, ended its season at 37-15.
Dickinson State finished with nine hits and played error-free defensively. Arizona Christian had seven hits but committed five errors, including two during the Blue Hawks' decisive fourth inning.
Arizona Christian took a 1-0 lead in the second when Avery Slater walked, stole second and scored on Glory Estabrook's double to center field. The Blue Hawks had opportunities early but left two runners on in the second and one in the third before breaking through in the fourth.
Kiley Hubby opened the inning with a single, and Bailee Mitchell entered as a pinch runner. Octavia Meyer followed with a bunt single, and Viennah Meyer reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt to load the bases. Allyson Farrington then singled through the left side, scoring Mitchell and Octavia Meyer. Viennah Meyer also scored on an error on the play to give DSU a 3-1 lead.
Izzy Kelly was hit by a pitch, and Ashlee Potter added an RBI groundout to make it 4-1. Stocktyn Stevenson reached on a fielder's choice before Celina Wilharm doubled to center field, scoring Stevenson. Brooke Lijewski followed with an infield single, and Wilharm scored on the throw to push the lead to 6-1.
Arizona Christian answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Morgan Bradford singled, Brittany McCracken singled and Estabrook was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ashley Madonia brought in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Rachel Martin added an RBI single to cut DSU's lead to 6-3.
Butler entered in the fifth and closed the game for Dickinson State. She allowed one hit over three scoreless innings, did not issue a walk and earned the save. Butler faced the minimum after Christina Grubb singled in the fifth, as the Blue Hawks turned a double play to end the inning.
DSU added an insurance run in the sixth. Potter walked to start the inning, and Wilharm singled up the middle. Potter scored on a throwing error to make it 7-3.
Ava Jahner earned the win for Dickinson State, improving to 12-2. She allowed three runs on seven hits over four innings, with one walk and four strikeouts. Butler earned her third save of the season.
Wilharm led the Blue Hawks at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Viennah Meyer went 2-for-3, while Farrington drove in two runs. Lijewski, Hubby and Octavia Meyer each added one hit.
Alyssa Grinstead took the loss for Arizona Christian. She allowed seven runs, two earned, on seven hits over five innings. Dayna Herrera threw the final two innings for the Firestorm and allowed two hits while striking out three.
