Oxford, AL

#11 Sante Fe (45-16, 28-12) met #6 Odessa College (52-7, 24-0) in the first round of the NJCAA DI Softball World Series in Oxford, Alabama at Choccolocco Park. This is the first ever meeting between the Saints and Wranglers, with both teams coming into the World Series with strong resumes and the hope to be crowned NJCAA DI Softball National Champions for the first time ever. 

The Saints were the designated away team, stepping into the box first to face a strong Odessa pitching staff who have allowed over four runs just one time in their last 9 games. The game began at 9:00pm CT as heavy rain and flooded fields pushed the final two game of Monday into the first slot Tuesday morning. 

Molly Bender led off the game with a four pitch walk and stole second base to put her in scoring position. The Saints were unable to score as they head to the bottom half of the inning. Mancillas enters the circle first for the Saints; her first appearance since their 6-3 win vs Indian River. Mancillas then struck out the side to get through the first inning scoreless. 

Santa Fe is sent down in order in the second inning as the first two Wranglers hitters single through the right side. Mancillas is able to induce an F3 and F4 before getting a lineout to third base to end the threat. 

The Saints struck first in the third inning after Rylie Blankenship singled and Camryn VanGalder bunted her over into scoring position. A single from McKenzie Cox breaks the tie and brings home Blankenship as the Saints take a 1-0 advantage. 

The Wranglers have one reach via walk as she gets to third on a groundout to short from the Wranglers #2 hitter. The Wranglers take the lead after a hard hit ball to right reaches the fence and scores everyone, including the hitter for an inside-the-park homerun. After three innings of play the Saints trail 2-1. 

Tegan Grizzard walks with two outs in the 4th inning but is stranded at first. 

Odessa threatens again in the 4th inning as they tack on another two runs on three hits to advance their lead to 4-1. 

McKenzie Cox records her second hit of the day with a single in the top of the 5th. She is left on base as the Saints are held to one run after 4 and a half innings complete. 

The 5th frame is scoreless for both Santa Fe and Odessa as both pitchers have been solid as the score holds with Odessa in front 4-1. 

The Saints loaded the bases in the 6th as they threatened big trouble for Odessa. Rylie Blankenship brings one home after an infield single to cut the Wranglers lead but they are able to get out of the inning by only surrendering one. Santa Fe cuts into the lead and makes it 4-2 in favor of Odessa. 

The 7th inning sees McKenzie Cox walk to bring the tying run to the plate. They are unable to knock any hits as they drop their first game of the NJCAA DI Softball World Series 4-2 to Odessa College. 

The Saints move into the losers bracket as they will take the Signature Field tomorrow at 11:15am. Their opponent will be the outcome of Game 16 who will play tonight (May 26th) at 5:45pm CT between the winner of #20 Dodge City vs #14 Gaston College.