Final Stats
SALEM, Va. – West Florida scored three runs in the top of the seventh to rally past Southern Indiana, 4-3, on Friday night at the NCAA Division II Softball Championship.
The Argonauts (46-14) got an RBI double from Callan Taylor and a two-run double from Caitlin Steel to earn the win. West Florida will now player West Virginia Wesleyan in an elimination game tomorrow. Southern Indiana finishes its season with a record of 46-14.
“We sure like to do things the hard way,” said West Florida head coach Melissa Paul. “We had some good opportunities and we hit the ball hard early on, but it wasn’t fall for us. We just kept pressing and adjusting to what she was doing to us at the plate, and we finally figured it out there at the end of the game.”
West Florida grabbed the first lead of the game with an RBI single from Jacey Castro that scored Rachel Wright who opened the inning with a single.
The Screaming Eagles were able to keep the pressure on West Florida and broke through with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Marleah Fossett opened the inning with a single and Shelby Tate came on to pinch run. Haley Hodges successfully laid down a bunt attempt, and an errant throw allowed her to reach base as well. Another bunt moved the runners over to second and third, allowing Mena Fulton to drive in a run on an RBI single to left center. After a walk, Jennifer Leonhardt forced across another run on a groundout to short. Olivia Clark-Kittleson made it 3-1 on a bunt single to cap the inning.
The decisive seventh started with a walk before Taylor’s RBI double. After a single from Wright, Steel’s double to right center scored both Taylor and Wright to complete the rally.
Sarah Maloney (15-3), who came on in relief, set down the side in order in the seventh to pick up the win. She allowed just two hits in three innings of work and did not allow a run.
Meghan Toney was 2-for-3 with a walk, and snagged a line drive on the final out for the Argonauts. Wright also had two hits and scored twice.
Marleah Fossett went 3-for-4, while Mena Fulton and Clark-Kittleson each had two hits for USI. Jennifer Leonhardt (29-4) pitched a complete game giving up four runs on eight hits.
“I think we came out strong and ready to go,” said Southern Indiana head coach Sue Kunkle. “We played a good game, but we had a rough inning there in the seventh and we let the game get out of our hand. All in all, though, this season has been an amazing one, and I’m proud of my kids. We have a tremendous senior class, so it’s a bittersweet ending because we’re sad to see them go.”