SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- In the Opening Round of the 2025 NAIA Softball Championship, the Our Lady of the Lake (OLLU) softball team advanced in the winner's bracket with a 3-1 victory over the fourth-seeded Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) Eagles on Monday afternoon. The Saints will take on the second-seeded Eastern Oregon Mountaineers on Tuesday morrning at 10:00 a.m.

Kristee Salas got the Saints' offense going in the bottom of the first inning after she drew a one-out walk. After getting into scoring position, Salas came around to score after Caitlin Terrazas doubled into the right centerfield gap to give OLLU the early 1-0 lead over the Eagles. 

In the fourth inning, the Saints had another scoring opportunity after Alyssa Flores singled up the middle to leadoff the inning, however, a baserunning mishap sqaundered a scoring chance for the Saints and kept the game tight with the Saints clinging to a 1-0 lead. 

The OLLU offense was able to get to ERAU starter Vanessa Brink in the fifth. Kayla Rogers roped a double to left field to start the inning and moved up 60 feet on an Alyssa Garcia infield single. After Garcia swiped second base, the Saints had runners at second and third with no outs. Salas lifted a ball to centerfield that was deep enough to score Rogers to double the Saints' lead to 2-0. 

In the sixth frame, the Saints added a much-needed insurance run after Grace Ross doubled to right field and was lifted for pinch runner Ayanna Trejo. A wild pitch put Trejo 60 feet away and it was a Flores single that scored her, adding another run to the OLLU lead. The Saints left three runners on base in the inning, but headed to the seventh, three outs away from an Opening Round victory. 

The Embry-Riddle offense had their best chance in the top of the seventh as a walk and hit batsman brought the tying run to the plate with no outs. A sacrifice bunt moved the Eagles runners to second and third. After a lineout to Garcia at shortstop, Hernandez surrendered her first run of the game via a single up the middle to make it a 3-1 game. Hernandez ended the game with her sixth strikeout of the evening, securing the 3-1 victory for the Saints. Hernandez gave up just three hits on the day to earn her 24th victory of the year. 

OLLU moves on the face Eastern Oregon in the winners bracket tomorrow morning while Embry-Riddle will await the winner of Central Baptist and Middle Georgia State. 

To view full results and tournament schedule visit the Tournament Central page. 

For the latest news, updates, and information on the OLLU Saints, fans can visit ollusaintsathletics.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Saints news by following @ollusaintsathletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.