Brown's RBI double, Wathen's gem keep IU Southeast alive in Hattiesburg Bracket

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Facing elimination with their season on the line, No. 4 IU Southeast (Ind.) got a key RBI double from Kendall Brown and a pitching gem from Madison Wathen to keep their season alive in the Hattiesburg Bracket of the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round.

Brown laced an RBI double in the fourth to plate the game's lone run, while Wathen tossed a one-hit shutout as the Grenadiers eliminated No. 3 Reinhardt (Ga.) on Tuesday.

With the win, IU Southeast improves to 35-17 overall as they will once again face elimination on Wednesday (May 15) at 3 p.m. ET when they take on No. 5 Stillman (Ala.) in a rematch from the Hattiesburg Bracket opener on Monday.

The Grenadiers stranded three base runners in the first two innings and went down in order in the third before breaking through in the fourth.

Erin Templeman opened the inning with a single as Alaina Winzeler was called upon to pinch run. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt with Brown was due up next.

The sophomore from Greenville, Ind., came up big, hitting an RBI double to left, scoring Winzeler from second, giving her team a 1-0 lead.

The 1-0 lead would be enough for Wathen, who was working on a gem in the circle. She retired the first six she faced in order before allowing a leadoff hit by pitch in the third. The runner reached scoring position, but Wathen retired the next three to end the threat.

She then allowed a leadoff single in the fifth, but like the third, she stranded the runner at second to keep the 1-0 lead intact. Wathen then pitched a perfect sixth and seventh to seal the 1-0 victory.

Wathen, the RSC Softball Pitcher of the Year, improved to 18-4 after tossing a complete game, one-hit shutout with eight strikeouts.

The Grenadiers recorded eight hits as a team, and Brown going a perfect 3-for-3 in the win.