Decatur, Alabama- Nikki Sanders two run pinch hit double in the eighth inning propelled William Carey past Bethel College 8-6 in the first round of bracket play at the 2010 NAIA National Tournament.

WCU will take on Oklahoma City in a winner's bracket game at Noon tomorrow.  Oklahoma City defeated No. 1 California Baptist 2-0.

WCU and Bethel traded runs in the first inning but the Lady Pilots opened a 2-1 lead thanks to Tara Blair's RBI single in the second inning. WCU responded in the top of the third scoring three runs on four hits to open a 4-2 lead. The lead was short lived as Bethel tied the game at four on a Katie Boocher two run homer in the bottom of the third.

 Bethel increased the lead to  5-4 with a run in the fourth but like the before the Lady Crusaders were up to the challenge. Casey Alexander scampered home on a Lady Pilot error to the tie the game 5-5 in the fifth and WCU increased the lead to 6-5 on Missy Paulina sacrifice fly in the sixth.  Like Carey had done before it was Bethel's turn to rally and in the bottom of the seventh Boocher ripped an RBI double to tie the game at 6 and force extra innings.

In the eighth Missy Paulina drew a walk and Larke Nightingale singled to put two on with one out to set the stage for Sanders'.

Kelsey Jo Smith picked up the win working six innings of three hit relief. Tan Montgomery led WCU at the plate going 3 for 5 with two runs scored. Casey Alexander and Bree Neidhardt each added two hits.