SAN ANTONIO (May 24, 2023) – The NAIA No. 2-ranked Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) softball program will look to continue its historic run at the NAIA World Series on May 26. The Saints recently won the San Antonio Bracket in the NAIA Opening Round after prevailing in two must-win contests against Hope International University on the final day. 

Head Coach Bruce Lenington said, "This is just a 10-team tournament at the end of the day. Our players have played in many of them before. Our challenge is to control our emotions and be better than the team in the other dugout."

The Saints finished the regular season with the most wins in program history. The squad went 40-4 overall and had a perfect mark of 26-0 in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC). They claimed the regular-season title after outscoring the LSU-Alexandria Generals 22-0 in two games. The Saints won 35 straight games until they were bested by Texas A&M University-San Antonio (TAMUSA) in the early rounds of the RRAC Championships. The team went on to win the conference championship and earned an automatic bid into the NAIA Opening Round.

The NAIA Opening Round consisted of four teams, and the Saints hosted the event at St. Mary's University's Softball Field. OLLU was the No. 1 seed, followed by Hope International University (HIU) at No. 2, Campbellsville University at No. 3 and Taylor University (TU) at No. 4. The Saints defeated TU 9-1 to open play and advance in the winner's bracket. HIU beat the Saints 1-0 on the second day after a pitching battle that allowed only three hits on either side. The Saints faced Taylor again after losing to HIU and won 10-3 in a game that ended after midnight due to rain delays. The NAIA Opening Round title was on the line on the third and final day of the tournament. The Saints faced HIU again and needed two wins to advance to the World Series due to the Royals entering Wednesday undefeated in the tournament. OLLU blanked the Royals 2-0 in both contests and moved on to the NAIA World Series for the first time in program history.

The Saints lead the nation in multiple categories this season. They are first in the NAIA with 51 wins, 70 home runs, 195 extra-base hits and a .584 slugging percentage. OLLU ranks in the top five with 354 RBIs and 821 total bases. The pitchers are holding opponents to a .198 batting average. Cassandra Valdez and Angela Ramirez accounted for most of the pitching during the year. Valdez has a solid 1.45 ERA and averages 9.22 strikeouts per seven innings. She leads the NAIA in wins with 30. Angela Ramirez was undefeated in the circle at 16-0 during the regular season and followed Valdez with a 2.18 ERA. Valdez also has a .383 batting average with 47 RBIs and 14 home runs. Rebecca Duran and Madison Garza have 14 doubles, and Madison Nunn has stolen 16 bases. Duran has assisted on 45 plays in the infield, and catcher Joanna Gonzalez has 274 putouts.

The NAIA World Series consists of 10 teams that won their Opening Round tournaments. Oregon Tech University grabbed the first seed by being ranked No. 1 in the nation for the latter part of the season. The Saints are the No. 2 seed and are ranked second in the NAIA. The University of the Cumberlands is third, followed by Southern Oregon University in fourth, Georgia Gwinnett University in fifth, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in sixth, Marian University in seventh, Central Methodist University in eighth, Baker University in ninth and Midland University in 10th. The Saints, Baker and Cumberlands are making their first trip to the World Series. Oregan Tech is the veteran of the group with eight appearances, followed by Science and Arts with 7, Marian with six, Southern Oregon with five, Midland and Central Methodist with four and Georgia Gwinnett with three.

The Saints received a bye and will face Marian University or Midland University on Friday at 6 p.m. Central Time. OLLU played Midland earlier this season at home and won two of three, 11-6, 2-6 and 8-3. The games are being held in Columbus, Ga., as part of a double-elimination tournament.  

Seeds were determined by the NAIA Softball National Selection Committee (NSC). The NSC consists of one representative from each geographic area, a representative from the National Administrative Council (NAC) Postseason Selection and Ratings Committee, the president of the NAIA-Softball Coaches Association and three at-large members. The committee evaluated teams throughout the year on various criteria.

Game one will feature No. 7-seeded Marian, which will face No. 10-seed Midland at 10 a.m. ET. The winner of this contest will face OLLU on Friday, May 26.

In game two, No. 8-seeded Central Methodist will face No. 9 Baker at 1 p.m. ET. The winner will move on to play on Friday against top-seeded Oregon Tech.

In the 4 p.m. ET tilt on Thursday, No. 4-seeded Southern Oregon will try to take home its third title in the last four World Series' played (the 2020 Series was canceled due to Covid-19). The Raiders will battle the No. 5-seeded Grizzlies of Georgia Gwinnett for a shot to advance to a game on Saturday against the winner of Oregon Tech's Friday contest.

In the nightcap at 7 p.m. ET, it will feature No. 3 Cumberlands, a first-timer in the NAIA Spring Classic, which will face No. 6-seeded Science and Arts. The Drovers are one of three teams in the field with a previous red banner to its credit. That winner will advance to play the winner of Friday's game featuring Our Lady of the Lake on Saturday, May 27.

Additional information on the competitors: 

NAIANetwork.com, the NAIA's official video-streaming platform of NAIA national championship events powered by Stretch Internet, will broadcast all 19 games of the 2023 World Series. The All-World Series package can be purchased for $34.95 or the day package for $9.95. Games 16 – 19 will also be delivered on ESPN3.

OLLU will host a watch party on Friday, May 26, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in UWAC Room 104. Light snacks and beverages will be provided.

Watch the Saints receive a blessing before they departed to Columbus, Ga., on Tuesday.