Oklahoma City, OK – In game six of the NCAA Division II Softball Championship, Adelphi played host to Dixie State, who ranked fourth in the final NFCA Coaches Poll this season. Coming from the West region, the Red Storm (51-7) blew in and handed the Panthers their first loss in the tournament with a 2-0 final decision. Adelphi (31-21) will play on Saturday, May 22 against the winner of Saint Mary's University and North Georgia.
 
"It was a competitive game, obviously we always want it to go our way, but we don't look at the score and define the type of game it was based on that," said Head Coach Bree Nasti. "The one thing we can take out of it is that we can compete here, even if it is our first time."
 
NFCA/Schutt Sports Freshman of the Year, Janessa Bassett drew a leadoff walk to start the game. With a walk and weak ground ball peppered in between strikeouts, Dixie State took a 1-0 lead as a hit batter forced the runner at third home.  Dixie State's Michelle Duncan and Adelphi's Lindsay Mapes each registered spotless innings in the next two outings to get through to the fourth.
 
Josie Hartman tripled in the top half of the fourth to drive in Mallory Paulson, who reached on a single to right field to give the Red Storm a 2-0 lead. The Panthers put on pressure in the third, fourth and fifth, stranding at least one runner on the base paths in each, but were unable to capitalize as the Dixie State defense held strong.
 
The Brown and Gold threatened to make a game of it in their final at-bat as Megan Lewis led off the seventh with a hard ball down the left field line. A Dixie miscue allowed Christina Palmenteri to reach but with two outs, Duncan closed the door to earn the victory and advance to the semifinals on Sunday, May 24. Adelphi will drop to the other side of the bracket and face an elimination Saturday afternoon (weather permitting).

Mapes went the distance despite soggy conditions, giving up four hits and striking out six and falls to 19-10 on the season. Adelphi held the advantage in hits with five, with Krista King and Megan Lewis adding two hits each. 

Keep up-to-date with the schedule for tomorrow's game by visiting okcallsports.org/d2softball. Information regarding the Panthers can be found by checking www.aupanthers.com or following the athletic department on twitter, @AUPanthers.