SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. - In its first NAIA season, the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods softball team is one of 40 programs headed to the opening round of the NAIA World Series. The No. 4-seed Pomeroys will face No. 1-seed Central Methodist University at Bowling Green, Kentucky, on Monday in a four-team double-elimination tournament. Campbellsville (Ky.) and Tennessee Wesleyan are the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds respectively in the opening round at Bowling Green, Ky. Coach
Jim Walker and his team gathered for the selection show, streamed on YouTube, at the Knoerle Center on the SMWC campus Tuesday to find out their next destination.
"We're super excited. This is a big deal for us being a first-year NAIA program," Walker said. "We just hope to go down and represent the school the best way we can. We like how we stack up against anybody in the country at this point. We'll do our research on [Central Methodist], but it comes down to how we play ourselves."
St. Mary-of-the-Woods earned an automatic berth to the NAIA Softball World Series when it pulled off two huge come-from-behind victories to claim the River States Conference tournament title in its first season of play in the NAIA league. "We were all really anxious to see where we were going to play. I think we're going to come out strong. I have no doubt in my mind that we're going to do well," sophomore catcher
Katrina Strow said. The Pomeroys earned an automatic bid to the NAIA World Series after winning the River States Conference Tournament last weekend.
Lyric Krause (West Terre Haute, Ind.; West Vigo) capped a five-run seventh inning with a two-run home run to lift the Pomeroys to a 7-6 win against Rio Grande in the semifinals. Krause followed that up with a game-tying two-run single in the seventh inning of an 8-5 win against Rio Grande in the finals. The Pomeroys were led this season by four First-Team All-RSC selections. RSC Player and Newcomer of the Year
Camryn Scott (Terre Haute, Ind.; Terre Haute North) led the Pomeroys' offense with a .444 batting average, 1.043 OPS, three home runs, 25 RBIs and a school-record 39 stolen bases.
Outfielder
Victoria Lee (North Vernon, Ind.; Jennings County), catcher Riley Bennett (Houston, Texas; Manvel) and
Summer Rocha (Chicago, Ill.; Regina Dominica) were also chosen First-Team All RSC. Lee hit .336 with a team-high nine home runs and 23 stolen bases. Bennett posted a .330 batting average with 10 doubles. Rocha led the SMWC pitching staff with a 10-2 record and a 2.38 ERA. Rocha struck out 50 batters in 85 1/3 innings. Krause and
Ashley Shanks (Ridley, Pa.; Ridley) were Second-Team All-RSC selections. Krause, the Pomeroys' shortstop, hit .338 with seven home runs, 14 doubles and 52 RBIs.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Prior to departing for NAIA Tournament play, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods coach
Jim Walker and requested players are available for media interviews at the following times this week at the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Softball Field.
Wednesday, May 11 from 5 to 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 12 from 4 to 4:30 p.m.
Please contact
Craig Pearson if you plan to attend either availability.
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