Softball Robert Nilsen

No. 23 Royals Upset No. 2 Saints to Move Onto the Championship

San Antonio, TX – The No. 23 Hope International University softball team (41-14) continued play at the NAIA Opening Round with a stunning 1-0 upset win over the top seeded hosts and No. 2 ranked Our Lady of the Lake Saints (48-6) on Tuesday afternoon in San Antonio, TX.

Allie Puente (30-3) picked up the victory throwing a complete game three hitter pitching 7 innings while striking out 5. Emily Puente led the Royals offense going 2-for-3 with the game winning home run.

This game proved to another classic pitcher's duel as neither team put a runner on base until the bottom of the third when the Saints led off with an infield single. After a sac bunt moved the runner into scoring position Allie Puente came up big with a strikeout before inducing a pop up to end the threat. 

The Royals offense then got their first hit in the top of the fourth as Emma McCraw lined a two out double up the middle to give the Royals their first great opportunity. Who else then delivered for the Royals but yesterday's hero Emily Puente as she delivered an RBI single to left to put the Royals ahead 1-0.

Allie then got right back to work as she worked around leadoff singles in the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings to keep the Royals lead at 1-0. The Saints had one last chance in the seventh but Allie put them down in order to seal the 1-0 upset win.

With the win the Royals are now one win away from the NAIA Softball World Series as they will take on the team that emerges from the loser's bracket on Wednesday, May 17th at 9:00 AM.