Evansville, IN - As the host of the 2023 National Christian College Athletic Association Mideast Softball Regional Tournament, the Mighty Oaks softball team looked to win their third-straight regional title, this time as the number two seed. Also competing were the third-seeded Alice Lloyd College Eagles and the top-ranked Kentucky Christian University Knights.
Game one saw the Oaks square off against Alice Lloyd College for the third time this season, having won both games of a home doubleheader in Oakland City, by scores of 9-5 and 15-1. The regional tournament was held at Deaconess Sports Park in Evansville, Indiana, because of rain. The opening inning saw the Eagles win the coin toss and bat second. After the Oaks plated two runs in the top half of the inning, Alice Lloyd responded by posting four runs of their own. Neither team scored in the second frame before OCU added four scores in the third to take a 6-4 lead. The Eagles pulled even in the bottom half of the frame with two runs. However, Oakland City notched one in the fourth before opening up the game with a nine-run fifth inning to win via run rule 16-6.
With the win, OCU advanced to play top-seed Kentucky Christian University in the second game. The Oaks won the toss, scoring one in the bottom of the first inning. KCU got on the board with two runs to take a 2-1 lead. Oakland City retook the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and added another in the bottom of the sixth.
Emily Fitzwater, who earned the win in the opening game, held the Knights scoreless after taking over in the second inning to earn the win in game two.
The first elimination game pitted Alice Lloyd College against Kentucky Christian University, with the Eagles coming from behind the upset the top-seeded Knights, advancing to face Oakland City in the championship game.
The Mighty Oaks lost the coin toss, giving Alice Lloyd the field in the top of the first. With three errors in the bottom half of the opening frame, Alice Lloyd plated three runs in the first inning, adding a fourth run in the bottom of the second. However, OCU responded with six runs in the top of the third inning to take a 6-4 lead. The Eagles added another run in the bottom of the third, but OCU added three in the top of the fourth, one each in the top of the fifth and sixth, and three in the seventh to win 14-5.
Fitzwater pitched a complete game, earning her sixth win in a row, improving to 14-7 on the season.
Alyssa Haynes went 4-4 in the game, scoring three runs and knocking in three, with an inside the park homerun, a triple, and two singles.
Oakland City earned the third straight Mideast Region Championship, advancing to the NCCAA National Championship, hosted by Kansas Christian College, held in Kansas City, Kansas. The Oaks earned the fourth seed in the eight-team field with a record of 24-19, equaling the most wins in program history, tying the 2000 team who finished 24-25.
