Grapevine, TX – May 20, 2025 — Southwestern Christian's softball team showed tremendous resilience in the NCCAA Softball World Series, splitting a pair of dramatic games on Tuesday and ultimately bowing out after a tightly contested loss to the University of Fort Lauderdale.

Game 1: Southwestern Christian 5, Oakland City 4 (9 innings)
In an early afternoon thriller, Southwestern Christian rallied from a three-run deficit to top Oakland City in extra innings. The Lady Eagles (now 30–28) tallied 11 hits, led by T. Norwood and L. Cahwee with two apiece. Cahwee also delivered a clutch RBI double in the fourth, and S. Gladness drove in the game-winning run in the ninth with a single to center.

L. Schallert earned the win in the circle, pitching five solid innings before L. King came in to close out the final four frames without allowing a run. The Eagles' defense and pitching held strong down the stretch, retiring the last six Oakland City batters in order.

Game 2: University of Fort Lauderdale 3, Southwestern Christian 2
Just hours later, the Lady Eagles returned to the field for their elimination game, falling in heartbreaking fashion to Fort Lauderdale, 3–2.

After falling behind 2–0 in the third, Southwestern tied the game in the sixth inning with a two-run single from Gladness, scoring pinch runner P. Leba and M. Jones. However, the University of Fort Lauderdale responded in the bottom of the seventh with a walk-off RBI single by A. Geary, who also pitched a complete game for the win.

Despite the loss, Southwestern Christian received strong performances from H. Elam and S. Gladness, each with multiple hits on the day. Pitchers L. King and J. Czikra combined to limit damage despite Fort Lauderdale's 11-hit output.

Southwestern Christian closes their season with a record of 30–29, demonstrating grit, heart, and championship-caliber effort on the national stage.