A three-run home run off the bat of Gabby Bess in the top of the seventh inning was the difference as the Lady Indians defeated the nation's #1 team, 6-3, in an exciting come from behind victory.
The Lady Indians didn't back down from the challenge of playing their second top five ranked team in as many days. The number one Florida SouthWestern State College Bucs came into the game with a record of 41-3 and riding a 24-game winning streak. The Lady Indians had a modest six-game winning streak of their own that included wins over #15 Pensacola State College and a 9-5 victory on Friday over #5 College of Central Florida. Florida SouthWestern defeated Miami Dade on Friday, 19-5, to advance to the second round.
Zayla McBurrows kept the hot-hitting Bucs off the bases most of the day as she retired the side in order four of her seven innings pitched, including a three-pitch fourth inning. McBurrows allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five.
Chipola took the lead in the second using extra base hits. Kinzie Nelson led off the inning with a double and then scored when Zayla McBurrows hit a ball to the right centerfield gap that caused the outfielders to collide. McBurrows ended up on third for her first triple of the season. McBurrows would score to put Chipola up 2-0 when the Bucs' rightfielder misplayed Sierra Jevyak's fly ball.
The score would remain 2-0 until the bottom of the fifth. After McBurrows made quick work of the first two Bucs' hitters, Janessa Plummer singled and Eliska Stejskalova was hit by a pitch to bring up the top of the lineup. Rebeca Laudino hit a 1-1 pitch deep over the right field fence to give the Bucs a 3-2 lead.
Facing their final three outs, the Lady Indians would deliver the best moment of the tournament thus far. After Marley Sims grounded out to lead off the inning, Madisyn Riggins singled and Karlee Back reached on an error to put runners at first and second. After taking strike one, Ava Worthy singled up the middle to score Riggins, tying the score at three. Marianna native, Gabby Bess stepped to the plate with runners on first and second. Bess, who was 0-7 in the tournament, hit a deep fly ball over the left field fence to give the Lady Indians a 6-3 lead.
McBurrows would finish off the Bucs in the bottom half of the inning, retiring the side in order.
The Lady Indians (24-17) will take on another nationally ranked team for the FCSAA State Championship on Sunday. Chipola will face #12 Indian River State College (30-11) in a game that will also determine one of two South Atlantic District representatives to the NJCAA National Tournament. First pitch on Sunday is set for 3 PM central time from Boombah Soldier's Creek Park in Longwood.