CLERMONT, Fla. – No. 4 seed Science & Arts (Okla.) and No. 10 Columbia (Mo.) meet up in the 38th annual NAIA Softball World Series title game Thursday at 1:30 p.m. ET at the Legends Way Ballfields. Both teams are playing in their first-ever softball national championship contest.
(World Series Central) (Bracket)
World Series Title Game Notes
- USAO needs one win for the title. Columbia needs two wins for the title.
- Science & Arts is the only undefeated team remaining with a 3-0 mark. One of the wins was against Columbia on Wednesday night, 7-6, in nine innings.
- Playing in its fourth all-time World Series, the Drovers stand 9-8 all-time in the event.
- The last time a No. 4 seed won it all was back in 1993. Former-member West Florida defeated Oklahoma City by a 4-2 score.
- The Drover are attempting to bring home a title to the state of Oklahoma for the 11th time – Oklahoma City owns 10 of those red banners.
- Offensively, Randa Hatter is hitting .571 (4-for-7) with four runs scored and a homer. Chloe Clifton leads the team with seven RBI in three games, including two game-winning doubles that drove in four.
- Columbia holds a 4-1 World Series record in this event. The Cougars won their first three games before the lossWednesday to Science & Arts.
- In its 17th World Series, Columbia holds a 21-35 record.
- Molly Carter is the offensive leader for Columbia batting .400 (6-for-15) with two home runs, four RBI and six runs scored in five games.
- The last time a No. 10 seed won the World Series was in 2012 when former-member Shorter (Ga.) took a 1-0, nine-inning victory over Oklahoma City.
- With two wins, the Cougars would become the second team from the state of Missouri to bring home a title – former member Missouri Western did this in 1982.