NJCAA 3rd-ranked Louisburg College softball entered the Region X tournament as the top seed and faced Catawba Valley Community College Saturday.

"I am extremely proud of our team's ability to continue to keep our foot on the accelerator and not allow the scoreboard to dictate effort," said Louisburg Coach Eric Lee.

The Hurricanes scored 24 runs on 17 hits and 8 walks. Brianna Tucker led the way offensively going 3 for 4 with 2 homeruns, 5 RBI, 4 runs scored, a walk, and a stolen base. Other home runs came from Abbie Yarboro, and Caroline White.

Starting pitcher Carrigan Ewers came out for precautionary reasons with 2 outs in the third inning following a collision at home plate. Ina Womack closed the door in the final 2⅓ innings for the Louisburg victory.

Game 2 was scoreless until the bottom of the third when Louisburg plated 2 runs on a walk and two singles by Yarboro and Haleigh Joyner. In the bottom of the fifth Joyner and White hit back to back solo home runs to stretch the lead to 4-0. Catawba Valley scored two runs in the 6th, but Louisburg answered with 4 runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 8-2.

Ellen Palya struck out the first two batters in the 7th. Then a Louisburg error led to 5 unearned runs before Palya completed striking out the side to end the game 8-7.

Palya pitched a complete game while giving up 2 earned runs and 2 walks. Her 13 strikeouts Saturday put her over the century-mark for the season. Palya is second in the country in strikes per game with 11.83 in every 7 innings.

"I'm proud that we were able to find a way to win. We are really excited to have the opportunity to go to Burlington to compete for a Region Championship," said Coach Lee.

The Hurricanes take the field for round two Friday at 12:30 pm. Their opponent is yet to be determined.