LUBBOCK, Texas -- RRAC champion Northwood fell, 6-4, in an elimination game against the University of Houston-Victoria Tuesday in the 2013 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round. The Lady Knights' Kaylan Pruitt went 2-for-4 with a two-run double and Gabrielle Esparza had a run-scoring double in the losing effort. Northwood ends its season at 29-19.

The Opening Round format is a first in the 33-year softball national championship history. The event will take place at 10 different sites around the country May 13 – 15. Each site will feature a four-team double-elimination tournament.

NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round Schedule/Results