COLUMBUS, Ga. – Florida SouthWestern State College captured the 2019 NFCA NJCAA Leadoff Classic title with a 14-4 five-inning win over LSU Eunice in the Gold Bracket championship at the South Commons Softball Complex. The top-ranked team in NJCAA DI stayed undefeated and improved to 31-0 with six wins over the weekend.
Northwest Florida State rallied from a 6-0 deficit to defeat Central Alabama Community College, 8-6, in the Silver Bracket championship.
Behind a quick start and a 14-hit attack, Florida SouthWestern cruised to its win over No. 2 (DII) LSU Eunice. The Buccaneers jumped on the Bengals (23-5) with five first-inning runs, three courtesy of Haley Ellefson’s three-run home run. After a single run in the second, FSW recorded its second five-run inning in the fourth, sending 10 batters to the plate.
LSU Eunice got on the board in the bottom half of the fourth on an RBI single by Hannah Smith. Both squads scored three runs in their respective fifth innings.
For the Buccaneers, Rebeca Laudino finished 3-for-3 with three runs, while Ellefson homered, doubled and drove in six. Mallory Little was 1-for-2 with two runs scored for the Bengals.
Highlighted by a five-run fifth, Central Alabama built a 6-0 lead. However, Northwest Florida finally got its offense on track with four runs in the bottom half of the fifth and took the lead for good with four more in the sixth. Thalia Viera da Silva and Lauren Rase each scored two runs for the Raiders (16-14). Sierra Easterwood crossed the dish twice for the Trojans (17-7). Both squads finished 3-3 over the weekend.
All-Tournament Team
Amber Parker, Central Alabama Community College
Mia Ruther, Des Moines Area Community College
Rebeca Laudino, Florida SouthWestern State College
Hannah Poole, Gulf Coast State College
Sam McKee, Illinois Central College
Dawn Bodrug, Indian River State
Kayla Collins , Jones County Junior College
London Jackson, Kirkwood Community College
Taylor Hulett, Lansing Community College
Jensen Howell, Louisiana State University-Eunice
Kamryn Wells, Navarro College
Makiya Giles, Northwest Florida State College
Paige Webster, Rock Valley College
Ashley Ramber, San Jacinto College-South
Taylor Langworthy, Seminole State College of Florida
Hailey McEldowney, Sinclair Community College
Mirah Clark, Wabash Valley College
Mabry Norris, Wallace State Community CC
