COLUMBUS, Ga. (May 26, 2022) – In a rematch of the Sun Conference Championship Final, the Webber International University softball team matched up against the No. 11-nationally ranked Southeastern Fire in the first game of the NAIA Softball World Series. A back-and-forth affair would end with a walk-off home run for the Fire in the bottom of the seventh to defeat the Warriors, 5-4.
 
Starting in the circle for the Warriors (42-23 overall) would be Kayla Swinson. She would toss five innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out two. Morgan Mills would enter the game in inning number six and would be relieved by Jenna Chaudoin after allowing three runs on four hits in 0.2 innings pitched.
 
The Warriors would score the first run of the game in the top of inning number three. After loading the bases with two outs, Alycia Celia would score on a wild pitch from the Fire (50-11). Southeastern would get on the board in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly to left field, tying the game at one apiece.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, with two outs and a runner on third, the Fire would get three-straight base hits to score three more runs and take a 4-1 lead into the final inning. With two outs in the top of the seventh, Southeastern would be one out away from a victory. However, back-to-back singles from Kelsea Friend and Abigail Thompson would put runners on first and second for the Warriors. Two walks in a row followed by two-straight hit-by-pitches would bring home three runs before a fly-out would end the inning. The Warriors would tie the game up at 4-4, forcing the bottom of the seventh.
 
Webber would get one out in the inning before the Fire would send a solo-shot over the wall in left-center field for the walk-off home run, earning the 5-4 victory.
 
Offensively, the Warriors were led by Friend who ended the game 3-for-4 with three singles and a run scored. Thompson and Mary-Margaret Maggard would each have a single as well. Maggard, Celia, and Miranda Muriel would each have a run scored as well while Maddie Houtz, Witney Bones, and Genesis Aviles would all have an RBI each.
 
Southeastern advances to play No.2-seeded Oklahoma City while the Warriors will await either Freed-Hardeman or Indiana Wesleyan. Webber's game will be played on Friday, May 27, at 1 p.m.