Red Oak grad helps SAGU softball win first-ever national title in program history

KBEC Sports report

Kansas City, MO – For the first time in program history, the Southwestern Assemblies of God University softball team has the label of being a national champion. 

A recent Red Oak graduate played a key role in the victory and the season-long success, too. 

The Lady Lions captured their first-ever NCCAA national title by defeating No. 3 Columbia International University, 7-4, on Friday, May 18. 

Freshman second baseman and 2021 Red Oak graduate Makyla Kelly finished the title game 1-for-1 with a run scored two walks. The former Lady Hawk completed her first collegiate campaign with a .366 batting average that included 49 runs scored, 7 doubles, 3 triples, 21 base-on-balls and 21 stolen bases over 58 games played.

Kelly has since been named to the NCCAA All-American second-team, which is in addition to her NCCAA All-Region Team and Sooner Athletic Conference first-team honors

HOW THE TITLE WAS WON

SAGU trailed 3-0 after the second inning of the 2022 NCCAA World Series title game but climbed back into the contest in the fourth when Rosie Guadarrama and Illeana Salinas each singled home runs. Airiana Magdaleno later tied the game in the third with an RBI single that scored Alana Ortega. 

SAGU tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning and Maddie Watson then crushed a two-run home run to make it 7-4.

Inside the circle, Ashlyn Teran picked up the win in relief, going 5.1 innings and allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out six batters.

SAGU opened pool play with a 9-8 loss against No. 7 Arlington Baptist University, losing in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the seventh inning. 

The No. 2 seeded Lady Lions bounced back with a 6-4 win over No. 6 Hannibal-LaGrange University. SAGU then defeated CIU 6-5 to finish 2-1 in pool play and advanced to the semifinals after a 6-5 win over ABU in a pool play tiebreaker game. 

In the semifinal matchup against No. 1 Mid-America Christian University, the Lions came out strong behind a Teran grand slam in the first inning. SAGU went on to win 5-2 as Teran picked up the win on the mound, scattering six hits and striking out seven.

SAGU’s Rosie Guadarrama was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCCAA World Series after crushing four home runs in her six games played. The All-Tournament Team and other awards are listed here.