Spirit Travel to Fullerton for First Postseason Appearance

OUAZ SPIRIT (11-13, 4-2 GSAC) AT (8)HOPE INTERNATIONAL ROYALS (27-7, 18-6 GSAC)
Series Details	Game 1: Tuesday, May 4 • Noon • Fullerton, Calif. • Bastanchury Park Game 2: Tuesday, May 4 • Approx. 3 p.m. • Fullerton, Calif. • Bastanchury Park Game 3: Wednesday, May 5 • Noon • Fullerton, Calif. • Bastanchury Park If Necessary
Video Stream	ouazspirit.com/digital
OTT App	NAIA Network (Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku)
Live Stats	ouazspirit.com/sidearmstats/softball
All times local to Arizona (Pacific Standard)

For the first time in program history, the OUAZ softball team will make a postseason appearance. The Spirit will travel to Fullerton for a best-of-three series against (8)Hope International, with the winner earning the conference's automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament.

OUAZ has already played in a playoff-like atmosphere, facing Arizona Christian in a best-of-seven series for the GSAC East championship. The Spirit won the series 4-1, and outscored the Firestorm by nine over the five games.

The Royals have lost seven games all year, and won the GSAC West by four games over Vanguard. While Hope International is a great team, the Spirit have found a way to beat the conference's highest ranked team in the past.

During the 2020 season, OUAZ defeated then-12^th ranked Hope 4-3 in Fullerton on March 6. Pitcher Phoebe Popplewell earned her first collegiate win, pitching an excellent seven innings in which she gave up just two earned runs and seven hits.

Pitcher Alexandra McCutcheon has been rolling since the first day of February. The senior has 16 consecutive appearances in which she has allowed one earned run or less. Her ERA in that stretch is 0.99, has the fifth best season ERA in the conference this season, and leads the GSAC in saves.

Andraya Rhinehart has been the Spirit's most consistent hitter, finishing the regular season with a .375 AVG, six extra base hits, and 17 RBI. All three of those stats either lead the team, or are a share for the team lead, and is sporting a .429 on-base percentage.

Triples have been common to the Spirit this season, placing second in the conference in the category. The Spirit have seven different players with three-base hits, the only player with multiple being Janessa Rivera.

OUAZ have also gotten power from a lot of different spots in its lineup. The Spirit have 11 players with at least one double, and every player to start at least 12 games has a two-bagger. Six different players also have a home run during the 2021 campaign.

Games 1 and 2 will be played on Tuesday starting at Noon PST. Game 3, if necessary, will be played at Noon PST on Wednesday. All games will be played at Bastanchury Park in Fullerton, Calif.

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Players Mentioned

#18 Alexandra McCutcheon: RHP; 5' 9"; Junior; R/R

#25 Phoebe Popplewell: RHP; 5' 2"; Sophomore; R/R

#1 Andraya Rhinehart: INF; 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R

#00 Janessa Rivera: INF; 5' 8"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#18 Alexandra McCutcheon
: 5' 9"; Junior; R/R
: RHP

#25 Phoebe Popplewell
: 5' 2"; Sophomore; R/R
: RHP

#1 Andraya Rhinehart
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R
: INF

#00 Janessa Rivera
: 5' 8"; Senior; R/R
: INF