Game Day Preview: Lady Indians to take on top ranked Bucs
Chipola will face the number one team in the nation, Florida SouthWestern, on Day Two of the FCSAA State Tournament
Chipola vs. Florida SouthWestern State College - FCSAA State Tournament
Boombah Soldier's Creek Park (Longwood, Florida) - 3 PM
Fresh off an upset of the #5 team in the country, the Lady Indians will set their sights on the nation's number one team this afternoon in day two of the FCSAA State Tournament. Chipola (23-17) will meet Florida SouthWestern State College (41-3) at 3 pm central in Longwood, Florida.
The Lady Indians used four home runs from three different hitters and crafty pitching from Zayla McBurrows to take an opening round win over #5 College of Central Florida, 9-5.
Natalie Kopicova belted two home runs and was 2-4 on the day with 3 runs batted in. Madisyn Riggins also had a home run and finished the day 2-2 with 2 RBIs and a walk. Kinzie Nelson put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh inning with a towering two-run shot over the left field foul pole. Ava Worthy also contributed two hits in the game and 2 RBIs.
The Bucs shook off a shaky start in the first game of the tournament on Friday morning to defeat Miami Dade College, 19-5. Errors by the Bucs proved costly as Miami Dade took an 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Bucs answered with five runs of their own in the second and led the rest of the game. After allowing another Miami Dade run in the second, Florida SouthWestern scored three in the third and eleven runs in the fourth to seal their 24th consecutive win.
Prior to last season being canceled, Florida SouthWestern defeated Chipola, 8-4, in Sanford, Florida. The last time the two teams met in the State Tournament was 2019 with the Lady Indians winning a thrilling extra innings affair, 2-1, to advance to the NJCAA National Tournament. Chipola went on to win their third National Championship.