College: NISC Will Crown A New Champion As Sunday Title Finalists Set

There will be a new champion in this year’s National Invitational Softball Championship as the two previous winners–Loyola Marymount, won it last year, and Liberty, which took the crown in 2017–were both knocked out on Saturday.

Here’s a look at the finalists in the championship game on Sunday and how they got there via Saturday’s action…

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Championship Weekend – Day 2 Scores

Saturday, May 25

• Iowa State 7, Liberty 2
• UT Arlington 6, Loyola Marymount 3
• Iowa State 5, Loyola Marymount 2

Championship Matchup

Sunday, May 26

• UT Arlington vs. Iowa State, 12 p.m. MT
• UT Arlington vs. Iowa State, 3:30 p.m. MT (if necessary)

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SATURDAY RECAPS:

IOWA STATE 7, LIBERTY 2

FORT COLLINS, CO – Back-to-back home runs from Sami Williams and Taylor Nearad got the offense going for Iowa State, and Savannah Sanders pitched six strong innings as the Cyclones topped Liberty in an elimination game Saturday at the NISC.

With the victory, Iowa State (36-24) advances to the 4 p.m. MT game Saturday, set to face Loyola Marymount or UT Arlington in hopes of moving on to Sunday’s title game. Liberty’s season comes to a close with a record of 40-22.

The Flames jumped ahead 1-0 in the first inning on an RBI double from Sarah Robertson, but the Cyclones answered with five runs in the bottom of the frame. After the long balls from Williams and Nearad, Mikayla Ramos drove in two more with a single, on a play where Liberty missed potential outs on two baserunners. Logan Schaben got the final RBI of the inning on a bunt that scored Ramos on a close play at the plate.

Williams (RBI double) and Nearad (run-scoring groundout) struck again in the fourth inning as Iowa State edged ahead, 7-1.

Sanders worked around four errors by the defense, allowing eight hits. The first two batters on the seventh for Liberty reached base, and Emma Hylen came in to relieve – Hylen struck out two batters and got the final out on a tapper to the circle.

UT ARLINGTON 6, LOYOLA MARYMOUNT 3

FORT COLLINS, CO – UT Arlington advanced to Sunday’s title game in the 2019 NISC, breaking open its contest Saturday against Loyola Marymount with three runs in the sixth inning.

The Mavericks (35-27) will be back on the field Sunday at 12 p.m. for the title game, and if they lose they still get one more shot in the double-elim bracket. LMU (40-20) plays later Saturday against Iowa State, with the loser of that one heading home.

Both teams brought in a single run in the first inning. LMU got a first-pitch leadoff double from Molly Grumbo, and she scored on a single from Delanie Wisz. The Mavericks countered with a two-out RBI single from Aileen Garcia; they went ahead an inning later on back-to-back two-out doubles from Bri Burchianti and Melanie Mendoza.

Garcia drove in Laura Curry to make it 3-1 in the fifth inning. In the sixth, Whitney Walton drove in a run, and another came across on an error during the play, and then Krista Rude singled in one more run with two outs, on her third hit of the day.

Randi Phillips got the win for UTA, pitching 4 1/3 innings and allowing four hits to go with five strikeouts. Freshman Allie Gardiner came in to relieve, and she pitched 2 2/3 innings, giving up two runs in the final frame.

IOWA STATE 5, LOYOLA MARYMOUNT 2

FORT COLLINS, CO – Taylor Nearad drilled a bases-loaded double into center field with two outs in the top of the seventh, driving in three runs and cementing Iowa State’s rally as the Cyclones slipped past Loyola Marymount in an elimination game for the 2019 NISC.

The victory sends Iowa State (37-24) into Sunday’s title game against UT Arlington at 12 p.m. MT. The Cyclones will have to beat the Mavericks twice in this double-elim bracket.

In the seventh, Mikayla Ramos was hit by a pitch from Linnay Wilson, who had pitched two perfect innings of relief to that point. After a sacrifice bunt, an infield error and a strikeout, LMU (40-21) chose to intentionally walk leadoff hitter Sami Williams, which loaded the bases and brought up Nearad. With two strikes, she laced a shot to center to score three runs. Talyn Lewis put the bat on the ball next, and on an error, another run scored, making it 5-2 for the Cyclones.

Emma Hylen pitched 2 1/3 innings in relief for ISU, allowing one hit and one walk, striking out four batters. Savannah Sanders threw a great game as the starter for the Cyclones as well, allowing four hits in 4 2/3 innings.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Lions got two runners on base, but a tapper to Hylen was tossed to first for the final out. This is the most victories for an Iowa State team since 1989.

Both teams scored early; Williams doubled and scored on a Lewis grounder for ISU, and Megan Martin homered for Loyola Marymount. With the score tied at 1-all, LMU put runners on second and third with two outs, and Maddison Flores punched in a single to score Sierra Marshall and take a 2-1 lead.