Decatur, Ala. - In a tight contest, Bethel (Ind.) College broke open the softball game with eight runs in the top of the seventh to propel it past UVa-Wise. The eighth-ranked Pilots powered two home runs and but took advantage of two walks and an error to a 10-1 win over the Lady Cavs in the first day of the Pool Play of the NAIA Natioinal Championship.

Ashlee Washburn produced two hits and drove in the UVa-Wise (31-16) lone tally. Britney Lawson doubled and Bobbi Mihelarakis had the other hit on the day.

UVa-Wise was first to get on the board in the third. Kaitlin Bennett reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on Mihelarakis single before running home when Washburn followed with a hit.

Bethel (51-6) answered with a single run in the fourth before taking the lead with a second solo tally in the top of the fifth to make it 2-1. The top seed in the four-team pool iced the game in the top of the seventh with its seven run outburst.

UVa-Wise will now face #9 Martin Methodist, who it split two games with this season, at 4:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon.