WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. - The Coastal Georgia softball team completed their run through the losers bracket on Wednesday afternoon, defeating the Benedictine Ravens by a final of 4-1 to advance to the finals of the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament. 

The Mariners (39-13) got another masterpiece from freshman Rylee Mills in the circle as she picked up her third straight win in a complete game effort against the only team to have beaten CCGA in the Williamsburg bracket so far. 

It was a change of pace for the Mariners in the game as they were the ones who jumped out to the early lead, striking for a pair in the very first inning. Sarah Thinger started the game with a walk followed by an error from the Ravens (40-16) that allowed Rori Rhodes to reach and advanced Thinger to second. Bryce Peacock and Rily Andrews then followed with an RBI single each, pushing the Mariners out in front 2-0. What looked like a big inning fizzled quickly as the next three batters were retired in order, moving the game to the bottom of the first. Mills did allow a two out single to Knorr, but she stranded the base runner and the game went to the second with the Mariners out in front 2-0. 

Both teams traded singles in the second and the third inning, but neither side could produce any runs and the game went to the fourth inning with the same score. 

In the top of the fourth inning, the Mariners added on to their lead. Alyssa Haggerty started the inning with a double off the center field wall and moved to third on a sac bunt from Emma Jones. Julianna Batts followed and sent a fly ball into left field which was misplayed allowing Haggerty to just beat the throw home and extend the Mariners lead to 3-0. 

In the bottom half, the Ravens cracked the scoreboard for the first time in the game. A leadoff single from Stricklan started the inning and she moved to second on a groundout. The very next batter, Martin, doubled to left center to score Stricklan and make the score 3-1 going to the fifth inning. 

In the fifth, Mills and Mackenzie Southerland hit back-to-back singles with one out in the inning but could not add on any runs, and in the bottom half, the Ravens got a pair of singles as well but also could not score. 

The Mariners were sat down in order in the top of the sixth, but Mills continued to pitch strong in the bottom half stranding a two out double to keep the two run lead intact going into the final inning. 

The seventh inning started with a walk to Peacock and two batters later Mills was hit by a pitch to put two on with just one out. Southerland added another single to her tally to load the bases, and Haggerty sent a foul ball down the right field line that was caught just deep enough to score Peacock and give the Mariners a much needed insurance run. An interference call ended the top half, but CCGA had a three run lead and needed just three outs for the win. 

Mills returned to the circle to finish what she started and gave up a leadoff single to begin the inning. The freshman beared down and got the next three batters in order to retire the side and send the Mariners to the opening round finals for the second consecutive year. 

Seven of the nine starters in the order recorded at least one hit with Mills and Southerland both recording multiple. Peacock, Andrews, Haggerty, and Batts all finished with an RBI each. In the circle, Mills went the full seven innings allowing nine hits and just one run, one walk, and four strikeouts. 

The Mariners now advance to tomorrow's championship game where they will need to defeat the number one seed and host school Cumberlands twice to advance to the World Series. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.