Decatur, AL - Over the past five years the Simon Fraser University Clan softball team has become known for their high octane offence, but on Thursday morning in their opening game of the 2010 NAIA Softball National Championships, the Clan utilized defence and the pitching duo of senior Jennifer Van Egdom (Surrey, B.C.) and freshman Cara Lukawesky (Coquitlam, B.C.) to defeat Lindsey Wilson College 2-0. The Clan (22-14) improve to 1-0 in Pool C play and face Bellevue on Friday afternoon at 2:30 pm (12:30 Pacific).

A two-run homerun by senior Carly Moir (Surrey, B.C.) in the bottom of the second inning proved to the difference. After falling behind 0-2 in the count to LWC starter Anyibell Ramirez, Moir fouled off five pitches, working the count back to 2-2 and taking the ensuing pitch deep over the left field wall to score Leah Riske. The Clan registered two hits in total in the game, stranding three runners, but the duo of Van Egdom and Lukawesky combined to allow only four Lindsey Wilson hits to ensure victory.

"I started the at-bat down 0-2 and I honestly was just trying to move the runner," said Moir of her game winning at-bat. "I think today was a good starting point for our team, we know we can play better, but this is a good win to build on for our upcoming games, I don't think we have played our best game yet this season."

Van Egdom earned the victory on the hill for the Clan, allowing three hits over three innings, while Lukawesky picks up the save, allowing only one hit and one walk over four innings. The pair combined to allow only five base runners total for LWC, and SFU head coach Mike Renney was quick to credit the entire team for the defensive effort.

"Our strongest point today was our defence, we had four diving catches today where players left their feet to make a play, and if our athletes are prepared to do that then it puts us in a position to win games," said Renney. "The latter part of the season we have been pitching by committee, [Van Egdom] got us through the first three innings, and we turned the ball over to a walk-on freshman pitcher [Lukawesky] who came through as well. We are in the same boat here as everyone else, but it was good to get the first game and first win out of the way."

The win improves Van Egdom to 10-5 on the season, while the save was the first of Lukawesky's career. Ramirez was dealt the loss, allowing two runs over three and a third innings.