SHAWNEE, Okla. – The IU Southeast softball team began NAIA Opening Round play Monday, falling 9-0 to third-ranked St. Gregory's.
The Grenadiers (33-18) were retired in order to start the game and then surrendered three runs in the bottom of the inning.
A sacrifice fly from Sammy Leisinger and an RBI single from Ashli Hafford made it 2-0. A wild pitch from starter Caroline Cato allowed Hafford to score.
The Cavaliers (44-5) continued to threaten with runners on second and third. Brooke Barnett caught a fly ball to left and then made a great throw to the plate to cut down Katie Godfrey at home to limit the damage to three runs.
The Grenadiers had back-to-back singles from Emily Weiss and Hannah Veit in the top of the third, but Hafford was able to escape the jam without allowing a run to score. After a sac bunt from Justice Kline moved both runners into scoring position, Becca Schoenung and Morgan Keefer struck out swinging to end the inning.
St. Gregory's would tack on five more runs in the third. The big blow was a two-run triple from Samantha Plott to make it 8-0.
The Grenadiers will face No. 2 seed and No. 18-ranked Arizona Christian in an elimination game Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. The Firestorm lost a 1-0 decision to Park (Mo.).