Louisburg College softball traveled to Oxford, Alabama last week for the NJCAA National Championship. Going into the tournament the Hurricanes had won 44 games in a row, including the South Atlantic/Region X Championship. They were the 3 seed.

In game one the Hurricanes had 5 batters with RBIs: Lark Collins (2-3, 2 RBI); Jessica Russell (2-2, 2 2B, RBI); Brianna Tucker (1-2, RBI); Foster Sharpe (1-1, RBI); and Ansley Lee (2-3, 3 RBI). Ellen Palya went 3.2 innings in the circle. She gave up one hit. Palya made 11 outs (10 strikeouts) before being lifted because of injury. Riley Lingerfelt picked up the win in relief, going 2.1 innings. She gave up two hits and struck out 3. 

In game two, Louisburg lost 2-0. The Hurricanes threatened by loading the bases with one out in the top of the first inning, but were unable to get a hit to fall. In three other innings, Louisburg had multiple runners in scoring position with less than 2 outs and did not convert. Lark Collins got the lone hit for the Hurricanes. Carrigan Ewers started in the circle. She went 4.2 innings 2 runs, 3 hits, 3 strikeouts. The three hits were scattered, but failure to execute bunt defense led to two additional baserunners. A subsequent fielder's choice drove in the first run and a sacrifice fly to plated the second.

In game three, Louisburg scored 3 in the bottom of the first then got outscored 10-2. Defensive miscues continued to haunt the Hurricanes. Coach Lee commented, "Unfortunately for our pitchers the numbers don't reflect how well they threw because we couldn't execute simple rotations and bunt defense to get easy outs." Palya, Ewers, Lingerfelt, and Emilee Prince all saw action in the circle. Offensively, Abbie Yarboro had a hit and a run scored; Foster Sharpe went 2-2 with a triple and an RBI; and Chelsea Roberson had a home run, three RBI, and a run scored.

"I'm extremely proud of this team and this season given all of the difficulties and distractions that they faced," said Coach Lee. "I'm disappointed that our season ended the way it did because I genuinely believe that we were good enough to win a national championship."

The Hurricanes had 7 NJCAA All-Region X players and led the country with 6 NFCA All-East Region players. Ellen Palya, Carrigan Ewers, Foster Sharpe, Bri Tucker, and Ansley Lee have already committed to NCAA Division I institutions. 

"When a team that possesses this much talent and depth is not prepared to win on the biggest stage in junior college softball that falls squarely on the head coach. I will personally learn from this experience so that our future teams can play their best softball on this stage."

The Hurricanes will bring in 20 new faces in the fall to go along with only 4 returning players for a new look in the 2023 season.