VOL STATE SECURES REGION CHAMPIONSHIP

The Volunteer State softball team defeated Chattanooga State on Thursday 11-2 to secure the automatic bid to the NJCAA Division I Softball Championship. The Pioneers defeated the Tigers in the winner's bracket final 5-3 on Monday, but Chattanooga took the first championship game 8-4 to force a winner takes all game on Thursday.

Volunteer would jump out to an 8-0 lead after the first three innings.  They would score single runs in the first two inning before exploding for six in the third inning.  The big blow in that inning was a three run home run by Kierstyn Smith.  All six runs came with two outs in the inning.  The Pioneers would score three more runs in the top of the sixth on a Mallie Grizzle three run home run.

Chattanooga would score single runs in the fifth and sixth innings.  Layla Turner would knock in the first run with a sacrifice fly while Salem O'Dell would drive in the sixth inning with an RBI single.

Volunteer had 11 hits in the game with Abby Murrill, Kaitlin Dillard, and Kileigh Irwin each with two hits.  Grizzle would drive in four runs in the game while Irwin would join Smith with three RBIs.  Murrill, Alysaa Dixon, and Anaya Dawson each would score two runs in the game.  

Kaitlyn Davis, the tournament MVP, would get the win in the circle as she went the distance.  She would surrender two earned runs on eigt hits.  She had two walks and six strikeouts.

For the Tigers, Ally Fleck and Alexis Rosano each had two hits.  Hallie Euberroth and Rosano scored on Turner and O'Dell's RBIs.  Fleck would take the loss as she went the first 2 2/3 innings, surrendering five runs on six hits with one walk and one strikeout.

Next up for Voluntee is the national championship which is held at Chocolocco Park in Oxford, AL.  It is set to start on May 25th with schedule TBD.