COLUMBUS, Ga. – The opening day of the 2025 NFCA NJCAA Leadoff Classic is in the books as six teams went undefeated on Friday at the South Commons Complex.

Highlighting the action on day one were three walk offs, including two that erased multi-run deficits. Seminole State capped off its 2-0 day one in fashion as Kiara Beltre launched a two-out homer in the bottom of the seventh to edge No. 2 (DIII) North Dakota State School of Science, 5-4. The Wildcats had rallied to take a 4-3 lead over the Raiders, but Izzy LaRoche tied the game with a solo shot to start the seventh before Beltre’s heroics. Seminole State also topped Southeastern Illinois, 9-7.

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In Jones’ tournament opener, Addy Shorter roped a two-run walk-off double in the seventh to complete a comeback win over No. 9 Des Moines Area Community College. DMACC scored four in the top of the sixth to break a 4-4 deadlock, and the Bobcats posted a run in the bottom half before Shorter capped off a four-run seventh with her double. Jones went on to top Illinois Central 6-1 and hold off No. 7 Johnson County Community College, 10-9.

In battle of nationally-ranked Division II programs, No. 11 Pearl River rallied from an early 7-1 hole to upend Johnson County, 11-10 in eight innings. After forcing extras with a run in the seventh, Natalee Eaves sent the Wildcats to a victory with a walk-off single in the eighth.

No. 1 (DI) Indian River State College joined Jones with three wins on day one. The Pioneers opened with two five-inning victories, 9-0 over No. 13 (DII) Danville Area Community College and 13-1 against Monroe University. They capped off with a 5-0 blanking of Pearl River.

Joining Seminole State at 2-0 were Chipola College, Tallahassee State College and No. 11 (DI) Gulf Coast State. The Indians trumped Roane State 16-2 and North Dakota SCS 10-2, both in five innings. THC blanked Pellissippi State, 14-0, before rallying past No. 1 (DIII) Patrick & Henry Community College, 8-7. After the Patriots scored five in the top of the sixth to grab a 7-4 lead, the Eagles pushed across four in the bottom half to collect the win. Gulf Coast State blanked Monroe University and picked up a six-inning 11-2 victory over Roane State Community College.

Posting 1-1 marks on day one were DMACC, Danville Area, P&HCC, Pearl River. The Bears rebounded from their defeat to top Illinois Central, 10-1 in five innings. The Jaguars also bounced back from an opening loss to Indian River with a 10-7 triumph over Pellissippi State. Patrick & Henry opened the tournament with an 8-0 five-inning triumph over Southeastern Illinois.

Day two opens with six games at 11:00 a.m. Eight of the 20 contests slated for Saturday are matchups of nationally-ranked programs. Below are those matchups.

Saturday
No. 13 Danville Area vs. No. 11 Pearl River
No. 1 Patrick & Henry vs. North Dakota SCS (2 games)
No. 13 Danville Area vs. No. 4 Jones
No. 5 Walter State vs. No. 1 Indian River
No. 1 Indian River vs. No. 7 Johnson County
No. 5 Walters State vs. No. 11 Pearl River
No. 7 Johnson County vs. No. 11 Gulf Coast State 

The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded Leadoff Classic tournaments, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from webinars to awards, to in-person and virtual events, and a National Convention.

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