Ashland, Ore.-- OUAZ Softball opened play at the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round on Monday morning with a 2-0 loss to #4 seed Dordt at Laurel Park in Ashland, Oregon. The defeat moves the Spirit into the elimination bracket, where they will face the loser of #2 seed Texas A&M-Texarkana and #3 seed Saint Francis on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m.
The game was a tightly contested pitchers' duel throughout, with Dordt breaking through in the fourth inning on an RBI double from Tera Lynn Price to take a 1-0 lead. The Defenders added another run in the fifth after Lauren Steenstra doubled home a run and later advanced to third on an OUAZ throwing error to make it 2-0.
Stephanie Cortazar kept the Spirit within striking distance in the circle, tossing a complete game while allowing just two earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. Dordt's Rylee Yager matched her effort, holding OUAZ to two hits and striking out seven across seven shutout innings.
Ava Seguin and Brianna Humphries recorded the only hits of the day for the Spirit, with Seguin collecting a double in the loss. OUAZ threatened to create offense in limited opportunities, but Dordt's defense and pitching staff kept the Spirit off the scoreboard.
OUAZ now turns its attention to Tuesday's elimination game as the Spirit look to continue their season in the Ashland Opening Round.
