HIGHLIGHTS: No. 1 Odessa College fends off Gordon State in tournament opener

OXFORD, Alabama (KMID/KPEJ) — The No. 1 Odessa College softball held off No. 16 Gordon State in the Wranglers NJCAA World Series opener, beating the Highlanders 3-1. The top-seeded Wranglers were backed by ace Rayna Cruiskshanks in the circle, who took the complete victory.

Cruickshanks posted 13 strikeouts, allowing just four hits and one run. Odessa scored in the third inning on a throwing error from Gordon State catcher, as well as an RBI single from Kawehi Ili. Michaella Baker hit her 13th homer of the season in the fourth inning to extend the Wranglers’ lead to 3-0.

Gordon State scored a run in the fifth inning, but Odessa held on for the first-round victory. It was the Wranglers’ lowest scoring differential in a win since their March 15 3-1 win over McMurry University.

The Wranglers will face eight-seeded Butler Community College in the second round of the tournament on Wednesday at 2 p.m.