Columbus, Ga. – [Schedule] [Bracket] [Tickets] The 2024 NAIA Softball World Series got underway at South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Ga. on Thursday morning with four games slated for the day. Two higher seeds earned the win while there were a pair of upsets to begin play. The first three games were all decided by one run, while the nightcap was decided by five.

Game 1: No. 7 Jessup (Calif.) def. No. 10 Southern Oregon, 5-4

• The Warriors of Jessup (Calif.) took the lead early in the bottom of the first inning with one out as Sam Lorge sent a long ball over the left field fence and the Warriors jumped out to a 3-0 lead right away.
• Southern Oregon got on the board for the first time in the top of the second inning as Hailey Seva grounded out to second base allowing runners to advance and Kami Klapp to score the opening run of the game for the Raiders.
• Maddy Ybarra got the pitch she wanted with a pair of outs in the bottom of the second, as she sent a solid hit to deep center field for a stand-up two-RBI double, that pushed the Warriors lead to 5-1.
• After the third and fourth frames were scoreless, SOU began clawing their way back into the game as Jessup posted an error allowing Hailey Seva to score and close the margin to 2-5. The Raiders grabbed another run with a Kailer Fulton single up the middle for the 3-5 margin heading into the bottom of the inning.
• The Raiders looked to mount a comeback in the top of the sixth as they had a runner on and the tying run at the plate with two outs but were unable to make anything happen as they continued to trail Jessup 5-3.
• As the final frame of game one came around to open the 2024 NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Ga. it was a narrow game as Jessup needed just three outs to knock the defending champions to the elimination side of the bracket.
• Southern Oregon loaded the bases right away on a single to right and a pair of infield singles as they looked to take the lead for the first time in the game.
• With bases loaded, the Warriors came up with the hot corner pick to set up the first double play of the World Series and help secure the win.

Game 2: No. 8 Madonna (Mich.) def.  No. 9 Georgia Gwinnett, 1-0

• In the top of the second inning, the sport of NAIA Softball utilized something that was long overdue as Georgia Gwinnett head coach Kat Ihlenburg challenged the extremely close play at first base which resulted in the first-ever replay review. While the call on the field was upheld, the utilization of technology has been what the sport has been looking for.
• The first two and a half innings of play was a pitching duel as both Annalise Jarvis for GGC and Maeson Schlaud for Madonna (Mich.) were on point, allowing just a combined three hits up to this point.
• Alissa Gaunthier was the first Crusaders base runner aboard since the first inning for Madonna (Mich.) but was unable to move her over as the Grizzlies recorded the final out of the third inning to keep things tied at 0-0.
• After another close play at first base, in the top of the fourth inning, GGC posted their best opportunity to break the scoreless game with runners on the corners and a pair of outs, but an infield pop-up ended the inning to keep it 0-0.
• With two outs against them, Mackenzie Ming sends a high fly ball to deep left field for a stand-up double, but once again the Grizzlies responded by freezing the batter to get back on offense.
• Ella Thomas swiped second in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of outs as Madonna (Mich.) looked to break the game open first, as they followed that up with a Gauthier walk for runners on first and second, but another infield pop-up ended the inning to hold the game scoreless.
• With three singles in a row, GGC had bases loaded and only one out with Angelica Gallegos stepping to the plate for the third time in the game.
• After a short Madonna (Mich.) conference in the circle, Schlaud toed the rubber and struck out her fifth batter of the game as the Crusaders looked to keep the game scoreless and get out of the bases-loaded jam.
• The sixth strikeout of the game came at the right time as Schlaud left three GGC runners on base to keep the game scoreless heading into the bottom of the sixth inning as the pitching duel continued in the circle at South Commons.
• Lead-off batter Ashley Rosiewicz took a casual walk to first base while Jessica Dunkel moved her into scoring position for another chance to break the game open with two outs.
• Georgia Gwinnett once again left a pair of runners on base in the top of the seventh inning as Madonna (Mich.) looked to win their first World Series game in walk-off fashion.
• The Crusaders were able to do just that as Alissa Gauthier hit the gap in right-center field with two runners on and one out, to score the winning run as the Crusaders dugout went crazy.

Game 3: No. 5 Oregon Tech def. No. 4 Cumberlands (Ky.), 2-1

• Oregon Tech looked to get on the board right away against Cumberlands (Ky.) in game three of the day as Puakea Milbourne singled up the middle with two outs before reaching second on a wild throw down and moving to third as a result but was then stranded after a lineout to left field.
• The Patriots also looked to strike first right away to open the game posting runners on second and third as Carly Oliver reached on a single to third base and Amber Gainer found the gap in left field for a double before OIT stranded the runners to get back on the bats of offense.
• The Owls made quick work of the Patriots in the bottom of the second inning as Kacie Schmidt had three batters come to the plate and with the help of the defense behind her was able to get two outs before Schmidt recorded the third and final out of the inning to keep things scoreless.
• OIT broke the game open in the top of the third inning on back-to-back RBI singles to center field with two outs to lead UC 2-0.
• The OIT defense back picked the Patriots runner off first base for the second out of the inning as catcher Jayce Seavert tossed down to first and picked off Kaysee Dale.
• Both pitchers for the Owls and Patriots began to dial in as the offensive production began to calm down as the fourth and fifth innings had a combined four hits between the two sides.
• Gainer reached base in the bottom of the sixth on a double deep down the left field line with only one out.
• The first run for UC was plated with a pair of outs on a single to right center field by Mackenzie Keatts cutting the margin to 2-1 as the tying run now stood on first and the go-ahead run was represented at the plate.
• Amber Atkins, the go-ahead run earned the walk to first base with two outs as the Patriots looked to take the lead late, but both runners were stranded after a routine fly out to right field for the third out.
• The seventh inning was three up and three down in both the top and bottom of the inning as OIT picked up the one-run win.

Game 4: No. 6 Science & Arts (Okla.) def. No. 3 Central Methodist (Mo.), 8-3

• Central Methodist (Mo.) loaded the bases after the Drovers thought they got out of the bottom of the first inning as the Eagles now looked to break the game open early against USAO’s ace Sophie Williams.
• Williams quickly turned around after a two-out walk and struck out the side leaving the CMU base paths full of Eagles.
• Central Methodist (Mo.) made quick work of the Drovers in the top of the second inning as they tallied a pair of outs back-to-back. After allowing only one base runner via walk, the Eagles quickly got the third out.
• CMU struck first in the bottom of the second inning thanks to an RBI double from Kelena Oots with two outs on the board.
• USAO picked up their first run with one out in the top of the third after Macenzie Ruth hit an RBI single, but the Drovers continued to pile on the runs, as they quickly pushed their lead to 4-1 highlighted by a big shot to left field by Jadyn Goucher.
• Science & Arts (Okla.) protected their three-run lead in the bottom of the inning as ace pitcher Williams continued to deal in the circle seeing three CMU batters; and getting three outs; fly out, fly out, and pop fly.
• Drovers capitalized on the Eagles' wild pitch to push their lead to 6-1, but a wild throw by the CMU catcher just seconds later, allowed Ruth to plate the sixth run of the game.
• Science & Arts (Okla.) grabbed one more run in the top of the fifth to lead 7-1, as CMU retired the side to get their offense rolling.
• The Eagles got their leadoff batter aboard via walk while Oots followed with a single to center field for runners at first and second.
• Williams came up big in the fifth inning as she struck out the side to leave a pair of Eagle runners on base.
• CMU began to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning, but it wasn’t enough as the Eagles only secured two runs to drop their first game at the World Series, 8-3.

Match-ups tomorrow will feature two elimination bracket games and two championship bracket games. In the elimination bracket, the 10 a.m. EST game will feature No. 9 Georgia Gwinnett and No. 4 Cumberlands (Ky.) as both teams look to stay alive. In the second game tomorrow at 1 p.m. EST No. 10 Southern Oregon will battle No. 3 Central Methodist (Mo.). The penultimate matchup will feature No. 2 Oklahoma City who plays their first game of the World Series against No. 7 Jessup (Calif.) at 4 p.m. EST. The nightcap will feature No. 1 seeded, Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) against No. 8 Madonna (Mich.) at 7 p.m. EST.

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