COLUMBUS, GA. (May 25, 2023) – The matchup is set for the Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) softball team after the first game of the 2023 NAIA Softball World Series. The Saints were slated to face the winner of game one at 9 a.m. this morning between Midland University from Nebraska vs. Marian University of Indiana. The Knights of Marian defeated Midland 2-0 to advance to the eighth game of the series against OLLU on Friday at 6 p.m. Central Time.

This will mark the first time the Saints have played Marian from Indianapolis. The team went 50-7 on the season and marked a 31-5 record in the Crossroads League. The Saints have the most wins than any other NAIA team. They are currently 51-6 and finished with a 28-0 Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) record.

Team comparisons

Marian reached the NAIA World Series by capturing the Indianapolis Bracket in the NAIA Opening Round. The Knights defeated Tennessee Wesleyan University 3-0, and then lost to Columbia College 2-4. The team won their next three games to win the bracket. They beat Middle Georgia State University 5-0 and Columbia twice, 1-0 and 8-1. This is Marian's sixth appearance at the NAIA World Series and first since 2019.

The Saints entered the World Series for the first time in program history. The women captured the regular-season title after winning a record 35 games in a row and going undefeated in conference with a 28-0 record. The Saints won the postseason title and advanced to the Opening Round of the NAIA Softball Championships. After defeating Taylor University in the first game of the tournament 9-1, the Saints lost to Hope International University 1-0. They went on to defeat Taylor again, 10-3. On championship day, the Saints faced Hope and had to win both games to move on. They came through to defeat Hope 2-0 in both games.

Statistically, the two teams compare as follows:

Cassandra Valdez is ranked first in the NAIA with 28 wins, seventh in innings pitched with 202.2 and seventh in strikeouts with 267. Marian's top pitcher Olivia Stunkel is 24-3 for sixth in the NAIA, 173 innings pitched for 29th place and 31st in strikeouts with 164.

Sierra Norman has hit 11 homers for 16th in the NAIA, while Valdez has marked 14 homers for 14th. Savannah Harweger is 89th in slugging percentage, while Valdez is ninth at .805. Harweger is first in the NAIA with a .490 batting average. Valdez leads the Saints with a .383 batting average.

Other individual comparisons are listed below:

Watch Party

The university will sponsor a watch party for Saints Fans not able to make the trip to Georgia. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. in UWAC 104; light refreshments will be served while they last.

Up Next

The winner of this game will advance to play the winner of the game between Cumberlands and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma at 6 p.m. on May 27. The loser of this game will play at 12 p.m. on Saturday. The tournament is double-elimination. The championship match will take on Wednesday, May 31.

Go here for additional information on the 42nd Annual NAIA Softball World Series.