The Chipola softball team split a pair with visiting Southern Union State Community College in their home opener on Saturday.
Game One: Chipola - 3 Southern Union - 2 (9 innings)
In game one, Chipola got a walk-off single from Tammie Lijbers to win 3-2 in a game that went 9 innings.
Chipola would get on the board in the first inning and take an early lead, 1-0. Ava Worthy walked to lead-off the first and was bunted to second on Shakara Goodloe's sacrifice bunt. With one out, Gabby Bess singled up the middle to send Worthy to third. Sierrra Jevyak put down a successful squeeze bunt to score Worthy.
Southern Union would add a run in the fifth to tie the game 1-1 where the game would remain through the seventh inning.
The teams would trade a run in the eight with both teams taking advantage of the International Tie-Breaker where a runner is placed at second to start the inning. Chipola would get their run when Goodloe, who was placed at second to start the inning, stole third. She would go on to score when the throw to third from the catcher went into left field.
In the ninth, Lady Indians pitcher Madisyn Riggins would get out of a bases loaded jam with a strikeout to end the Southern Union threat and keep the score tied 2-2.
In the bottom half of the inning, Kinzie Nelson was placed at second then advanced to third on Natalie Kopicova's sac bunt. One of Chipola's two sophomores, Tammie Lijbers, came to the plate and delivered for the Lady Indians with a single to left to score Nelson and give the Chipola the walk-off win.
Riggins (2-2) pitched the complete game for Chipola giving up only 3 hits and striking out 4.
Game Two: Southern Union - 10 Chipola - 4
Game two was a much higher scoring affair but unfortunately the Lady Indians was not able to keep up with the Bison.
Even though Southern Union scored in four of the first five innings, the Lady Indians kept the game close, trailing 5-3 headed to the sixth. The Bison would score three in the sixth and two in the seventh to put the game out of reach despite Chipola adding a run in the sixth on Kinzie Nelson's homerun.
Kyra Ward (2-2) struck out 7 in her seven innings of work.
Team Notes
- Nelson's homerun in game two was the first of her collegiate career.
- Ava Worthy and Karlee Back led Chipola at the plate, going 2-5 on the day.
- Indians moved to 4-4 on the season.
- Chipola will host the Visit Dothan Inviational next weekend at James Oates Park in Dothan, Alabama
You can watch Chipola's softball games by purchasing a subscription at https://team1sports.com/chipolaathletics/
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