Softball Finishes Fourth in State Tournament

The Pensacola State softball team went into Sunday at the State Tournament and defeated no. 7 ranked College of Central Florida 8-3 before falling 8-4 in a tough game to no. 11 ranked Indian River.

In the first game PSC got on the board in the second inning when Kylee Crowder and Brandie Seber both singled and then scored on a single up the middle by Bre'Asia Thomas.

The Pirates extended their lead in the top of third when Tori Ratigan singled and Georgia Hood hit a home run to left. After a pitching change Skylar Buzbee started things again with a single and advanced on a wild pitch. She later scored off a single from Bre'Asia Thomas to make it 5-0.

Two extra base hits by CF in the bottom of the inning made the score 5-2.

In the sixth inning Brianna Duggins singled and Samantha Ladowski hit a ball off the first baseman to give PSC runners on 1st and 2nd. After a popout Susanna Soldi was credited with a single, but Duggins was out due to being struck by the batted ball. That allowed Georgia Hood to come to the plate with two outs and she smashed her second home run of the game to give PSC a 8-2 lead.

The final inning saw the Patriots plate one run thanks to a double, but then Lydia Drake struck out the final batter of the game.

Georgia Hood was 3-for-4 with 2 home runs and five RBI. Bre'Asia Thomas was also 3-for-4 in the game with two RBI and Tori Ratigan was 2-for-4.

Lydia Drake added her second win of the tournament going the distance striking out 10 and only walking one batter.

Pensacola came back to face Indian River in the 7:00 pm game trying to earn a spot in the District B Championship game.

Tori Ratigan started the game with a single and stole second base before Skylar Buzbee drove her in with a single to right.

An error and single in the top of the second inning allowed the Pioneers to tie the game at one. The Pirates responded immediately in the bottom of the inning. Brandie Seber singled, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Then Bre'Asia Thomas drove her in with a single to give PSC a 2-1 lead. Brianna Duggins hit a ball to shortstop and the toss got away from the second baseman and Thomas took third. This allowed her to score on a single from Tori Ratigan.

Indian River plated a run in the third and fourth innings to tie the game at three. After they tied it up Garbriella Lindsey entered the pitching circle and secured a strikeout to end the threat.

Bre'Asia Thomas hit a solo homerun in the fifth inning to make it 5-4 Pirates.

The top of the seventh saw things get away for the Pirates as Indian River was able to plate five runs with the help of two errors and a triple. Presley Williams came into the game with a runner on third and struck the batter out looking to end the inning.

The Pirates did not go easily in the bottom of the seventh and had runner on 1st and 3rd when the game ended.

Tori Ratigan had another stellar game going 3-for-4 with a stolen base and run scored. Skylar Buzbee, Brandie Seber and Bre'Asia Thomas each went 2-for-4. The Pirates left 11 runners on base. 

Lydia Drake went 3.2 innings in her fourth start of the tournament and Gabriella Lindsey threw three innings and Presley Williams 0.1. 

Pensacola State closed out the season with a 33-16 record.