Louisburg College softball competed in the JUCO Kickoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida this past weekend and finished 3-3 against high-level competition.

The Hurricanes opened up with State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota on Friday and lost 3-2. Louisburg gave up three runs in the first four outs of the game. Then Ellen Palya came in and went 5 ⅔ without giving up a hit and struck out ten.

In the bottom of the sixth inning Louisburg loaded the bases with nobody out and could not score a run. Then, in the bottom of the seventh there were runners on second and third with one out and Louisburg once again could not plate anyone to tie the game.

"It's hard to win games when you leave that many runners on base and throw away as many at bats as we did," said Coach Eric Lee. "Ellen Palya did a great job giving us a chance to win. Unfortunately we couldn't deliver for her."

In the second match up of the day the Hurricanes took on Miami Dade College and again dug themselves a hole that they had to climb out of. Carrigan Ewers started in the circle and gave up 3 runs on 3 hits with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts in an inning and a third.

According to Coach Lee, "The biggest issue in this game was the seven walks that we allowed, but we managed to make adjustments at the plate to make sure we didn't have as many empty at bats." 

Foster Sharpe was 3-4 with a run scored. Brianna Tucker went 2-4 with 2 doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. Lark Collins was 2-2 and hit her first collegiate home run.

In the end it was another loss for the Hurricanes, 7-4.

On Saturday morning the Hurricanes got in the win column for the first time against Lake-Sumter State College. In a game that felt like it was going to end in more frustration and missed opportunities, the Hurricanes found a way to deliver late and come out with the 7-6 victory.

Louisburg scored 5 runs in the final two innings including putting up a 4-spot in the top of the 7th. The rally started with controversy as Lake-Sumter failed to report a substitution correctly resulting in Jordyn Scott being able to go back to the plate and lead off the 7th with a base hit, instead of a groundout to the third baseman.

"I went out in the bottom of the fifth inning and challenged my team after we had committed another error," recalled Coach Lee, "I walked away from that meeting looking for someone to get us going in a different direction. The team responded, getting us out of the mess and setting up an opportunity for the first dose of 7th inning excitement of the day."

In a Saturday afternoon match up the Hurricanes took on the #1 NJCAA Division 1 team in the country, Florida Southwestern State College. It was a pitcher's duel from the beginning.

Scoreless through 6 innings, Lark Collins drew a leadoff walk. Then Chelsea Roberson came to the plate and on the 10th pitch of the at bat sent a towering shot down the left field line for a 2-run homerun. 

Louisburg had a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the 7th when the first two Florida Southwestern batters snuck two hits into the outfield grass. They sent a pinch hitter to the plate and on the second pitch she hit a homerun to dead centerfield. The Hurricanes lost on the walkoff, 3-2.

"To go toe to toe with the best team in NJCAA softball was something I felt like our team should be extremely proud of," said Coach Lee. "Obviously it was heartbreaking, but I think it gave us a ton of confidence to move forward."

Due to COVID-19 restrictions for another team, Louisburg was able to add a game on Saturday and defeated Polk State College 9-4.

Coach Lee recalled, "It was the most difficult game of the weekend, because we had to come off the emotional high and low of everything that just happened with Florida Southwestern and step right back on the field."

The Hurricanes struck early and often. Jordyn Scott went 3-3 with a double, a run scored, and 2 RBIs. Jessica Russell was 2-4 with a run scored and 2 RBIs. Lark Collins delivered her second homerun in as many days.

In the Hurricanes final game of the JUCO Kickoff Classic they spent Sunday morning battling with Eastern Florida State College.

Louisburg built a 5-0 lead. In the bottom of the fourth Eastern Florida State crawled back making it 5-3, until the Hurricanes salted it away and won the contest, 8-4.

Ina Womack started in the circle for the Hurricanes and Haley Tomlinson got the win. HaleIgh Joyner was 4-4 with 4 doubles and 3 RBI on two runs scored.

"It was good to finish the tournament on a high, beating a quality opponent," said Coach Lee. "I thought our kids battled hard after a late night and an early morning to make the ride home a whole lot more enjoyable."

The Hurricanes take the field again this Saturday and Sunday for two double-headers at Georgia Highlands. The games are at 5 & 7 and 1 & 3 respectively.