This week Louisburg College softball traveled to Spartanburg, South Carolina as the number two seed in the NJCAA World Series.

In Game 1 on Tuesday the Hurricanes faced off against South Suburban College and won 6-1.

Bri Tucker was 2-4 with a homerun, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored; Kennedy Byrd was 2-2 with an RBI; and Kasey Lee was 2-3 with an RBI and 2 runs scored.

"The offense did a really good job of setting us up to be able to execute the pitching plan for game one," said Louisburg coach Eric Lee.

The Hurricanes threw four pitchers in the contest beginning with Zoey Jones who threw two scoreless. Riley Lingerfelt came on for two as well and was credited with the win.

South Suburban's lone run came on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth against Kennedy Byrd who went two as well. Emilee Prince finished in the circle for the Hurricanes holding South Suburban scoreless.

In Game 2 on Wednesday the Hurricanes defeated Des Moines Area Community College 4-1. 

Tucker was 2-4 with a double and a run scored; Taylor McQueen, Byrd, and Edi Austin all homered; and Darrah Nickens was 2-3 with a double.

Coach Lee commented, "I was excited to see our offense perform on par with what our everyday expectations are against an opponent that is consistently one of the best in the country."

In the circle Zoey Jones went 3 innings giving up a run on 5 hits. 

DMACC scored on a base hit through the right side by Campbell Kelley as Jones had to leave the game with a slight injury. Riley Lingerfelt was the winning pitcher who came on for the final 4 innings and held DMACC scoreless. 

On Thursday the Hurricaens took on Jones College in Game 3 and lost, 6-2.

"Our pitchers did a good job keeping Jones off balance–not giving them pitches to hit through the heart of the plate. Unfortunately, the ball had eyes," said Coach Lee.

Jones had 4 hits on balls that were squared up, the other 10 were jam shots or seeing eye singles. Zoey Jones went 1.2 innings in the circle giving up 5 runs on 7 hits. Riley Lingerfelt went 5.1  giving up 1 run on 7 hits. 

At the plate McQueen was 2-4 with a run batted in; Austin was 1-3 with a double off the top of the wall; while Darrah Nickens and Kaylee Oliver added a hit apiece.

In an elimination game on Thursday night against Parkland College, Zoey Jones was able to keep Louisburg's season alive. She pitched a complete game shut out as the Hurricanes won 2-0.

"Big time players step up in bigtime moments and Zoey Jones did that with arguably her best outing of the year on the biggest stage."

In her 10 strikeout performance, Jones only gave up 3 hits and 2 walks.

Scoring began late in the game. Averie Ottaly led off the bottom of the 6th with a bunt single. Two pitches later she stole second base and popped up as the ball came out of the fielder's glove on the tag and proceeded to steal third base. Taylor McQueen drove her in on a sacrifice fly. The insurance run was added by Edi Austin on a hustle play. She scored from first base on a fielding error by the shortstop.

Ottaly was 2-3 with 2 stolen bases and a run scored. Tucker, Austin, and Kylie Gilmour each added a hit in the win.

On Friday Louisburg lost to Des Moines Area Community College 2-1 in their final game of the season.

Tucker homered in the bottom of the third–her 46th of the year. In the top of the fifth DMACC loaded the bases with no outs on a hit by pitch, single, and a sacrifice bunt fielder's choice. The damage was limited with a ground out to second base, a heads up put out at the plate by Tucker, and a strikeout to end the inning.

A passed ball in the top of the sixth would break the tie for Des Moines, and while the Hurricanes threatened in the sixth and the seventh they couldn't push another run across.

Kennedy Byrd pitched 6 innings giving up 2 runs on 4 hits, a walk and 5 strikeouts. Riley Lingerfelt pitched the 7th giving up no runs, no hits, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts.

"I'm extremely proud of everything this team has accomplished," said Coach Lee. "They'll go down as arguably the greatest team in program history."