Softball Club Team Sweeps Three in First Day of World Series

COLUMBUS, Ga. — Arkansas State University’s softball club team breezed through the first day of play with three victories at the 2016 National Club Softball Association (NCSA) World Series on Friday at the South Commons Softball Complex.

The number two-seeded Red Wolves knocked off 10th-seeded Rutgers University, 12-1 in the morning matchup, then defeated 15th-seeded Ohio State University, 3-1, and ended the day with a 14-3 win over the University of Illinois.

A-State is seeded fourth for the Saturday (May 21) bracket and will play the University of Florida at 10 a.m. CT.

“We’ve never gone undefeated in pool play before,” said Head Coach Chris Powers. “We’re excited about tomorrow. Our goal was to get through pool play injury-free and keep the pitch count down for our pitchers. We accomplished both and went undefeated in pool play. So, I think we’ll be ready.”

He also had plenty of praise for the players, including pitcher Keeli Tanner of Collierville, Tenn., shortstop Mackenzie Powers of Paragould and pitcher/first baseman Shea Cothren, also from Paragould. 

“Keeli gave up three runs on five hits in six innings of work,” continued Powers. “She settled in after giving up a couple of runs in the first inning. Shea and Mackenzie had monster games at the plate.”

Powers was three for four, had two runs batted in and scored two runs. Cothren was also three for four with three RBIs, scored three runs and knocked in a home run.

Playing in their fourth World Series, the Red Wolves won the Mid-America-East Conference with a 15-0 mark. Following today’s success, the club is now 36-7 overall.