For the first time in the postseason, Coach Belinda Hendrix made a change to the top of her lineup in today's elimination game of the NJCAA National Championship Tournament and it proved to be the spark the Lady Indians needed. Chipola will move on to play again at 10 PM central Wednesday night after an 8-3 win over John A. College.
New lead-off hitter Shakara Goodloe used her speed in the first inning to reach on a hit that barely landed in front of home plate. Goodloe moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ava Worthy then stole third on the next pitch. Goodloe scored on a single from Gabby Bess to give the Lady Indians their first run of the tournament.
Hitting in the ninth position, Chipola's usual lead-off hitter, Karlee Back, led off the third inning with a single. Following a walk to Goodloe, Chipola would add a run after the Lady Vols' catcher's throw sailed into left field in an attempt to throw out Back stealing third. Worthy would put the Lady Indians up 3-0 on a single that scored Goodloe. Following a wild pitch and a stolen base, Worthy would score on Natalie Kopicova's ground out to give Chipola a four run lead.
The Lady Vols would cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs and runners on second and third, Kristan Wimsatt doubled deep to left field to make the score 4-2.
Chipola answered right back in the fourth. Marley Sims led off the inning with a single then stole second. With one out, Back reached base for the second time in the game courtesy of an infield error that also moved Sims to third. After Back stole second, Coach Hendrix once again took advantage of the new lineup change. Zayla McBurrows, the Lady Indians' starting pitcher, came on to hit for designated player, Goodloe. McBurrows hit a ground ball to short stop that scored Sims and pushed the lead to 5-2.
Lady Indians would pick up another run in the sixth inning on an errant throw from the Lady Vols' catcher. Sims stole third then scored when the throw once again went into left field, stretching the lead to 6-2.
Leigha Kirby entered the game in the bottom of the sixth and quickly struck out the first two Logan hitters. After an error put a runner at first, Lady Vols' lead-off hitter, Aryn Henke, doubled to left-center to make the score 6-3.
Chipola would also take advantage of an error to add on in the seventh. Worthy led off and reached on the Lady Vols' fifth error of the game. After stealing second, Worthy moved to third on the second hit of the game for Gabby Bess. Following a steal of second base for Bess, Kinzie Nelson's sacrifice fly to right field scored Worthy and moved Bess to third. Bess would score the Lady Indians's eighth run of the game on another RBI groundout by Natalie Kopicova.
Zayla McBurrows (13-6) picked up the win in the circle, throwing five innings. McBurrows allowed 2 runs on five hits and struck out six. Leigha Kirby was solid in relief, retiring six of eight hitters she faced.
The Lady Indians will take on the loser of the tournament's game 15 between 6 seed Seminole State College (Oklahoma) and 3 seed Florida Southwestern. The game is scheduled for 10 PM central time.
Links for tonight's second game: