Jags ride fifth inning past Freed-Hardeman in NAIA Opening Round opener

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The (RV) UHV softball team knew the runs would come, but had to exercise some patience on Monday in the opening game NAIA Softball Opening Round Oklahoma City Bracket.

The Jaguars eventually broke the scoreless tie with Freed-Hardeman in the fifth inning by plating three runs, including two on a wild pitch, en route to a 4-0 win.

With the win, UHV (33-12) advances into the winner's bracket semifinals against host and No. 2-ranked Oklahoma City University at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

"I was ready to for us to make an adjustment a little bit earlier than we did," said head coach Lindsey Ortiz, "but I'm very happy with the way they executed when they did adjust. We base-ran exceptionally well and I think that put pressure on their defense and ended up forcing them to make errors."

Freshman Sarah Cortez delivered for the Jaguars in her first NAIA playoff game, going 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored from the eighth spot in the lineup.

The Corpus Christi native, who started at third base, scored the game's first run by beating out a throw by the Lions' (31-17) pitcher Chloe Winters on a ground ball from Madysin Leighton.

"I've loved watching (Sarah) grow this season," Ortiz said. "She's earned this opportunity and she continues to earn this opportunity with a performance like that on such a big stage. I'm thrilled to see the bottom of the lineup do it because, if we can get the top going a little bit sooner tomorrow, that puts us in a great position to be doing stuff one through nine."

Senior Cameron Cowan pitched as Ortiz expected the veteran to, tossing a complete game in which she allowed only four hits and a walk while striking out seven.

After allowing a two-out single in the third, the Shiner native worked to retire six of the next batters she faced. The single in the third was also nullified by a throw from Leighton in center field to first baseman Allison Snedeker and then catcher Kenzie Chambers to tag out Grayson Mayo at home plate.

"I couldn't ask for anything more and expected nothing less," Ortiz said of her senior right-hander. "She executed and got herself out of pressure situations. She's the epitome of big-time players make big-time plays. I'm just enjoying watching her out there."

Now UHV matches up with the Stars (52-3), who won 6-0 against Ottawa (KS) in the bracket's first game on Monday.

It's the first meeting between the schools since a Feb. 14, 2020, doubleheader that saw Oklahoma City prevail in both games.

The winner of Tuesday's game will advance to Wednesday's championship round while the loser will face an elimination game at 7 p.m. Tuesday against either Freed-Hardeman or Ottawa.

"Oklahoma City is a very storied program," Ortiz said. "They're always going to put a quality product on the field. But I think we match up well if we can come in and play our game, execute the small things. The plan is to truthfully just battle, scratch and claw, and find a way to get a couple of runs across, then play the kind of defense we've been playing and rely on our pitching to hopefully find a victory."