CF softball season ends in loss to Seminole State 5-1 in junior college national tournament

In this file photo, the CF Lady Patriots’ softball team celebrate after winning the 2022 Florida College System Activities Association South Atlantic District state title for the second time in school history on May 8. [Supplied]

The College of Central Florida Lady Patriots’ softball team ended its 2021-2022 season with a 5-1 loss to Seminole State College (Oklahoma) during the second round of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I National Tournament held in Yuma, Arizona, on Wednesday, May 25.

CF opened the tournament on Tuesday, May 24, with a win over Butler Community College (Kansas) 7-3, but lost to Paris Junior College the next day, 5-4 in extra innings, which forced an elimination game against Seminole State immediately following the loss against the Dragons that same Wednesday.

Over seven innings, Seminole State pitcher Britney Lewinski shutdown the potent Patriots offense from the mound, allowing only one run on three hits throughout the game.

Mckenna Johnson scored two runs in the third inning for the Trojans on a two-run homerun off CF starter Savannah Barnett. Seminole College added another run in the fourth with an RBI single by Laney Anderson to take a 3-0 lead.

The Patriots fought back, scoring a run in the sixth inning when Brooke Roberts singled to center to score Emily Konz after an error by the Trojan left fielder, pulling the Patriots within two runs.

But in the end, CF couldn’t find any more offense after that one fortuitous burst of bats, nor could they fully stop the Trojans’ offense, dropping the game 5-1 in seven innings.

Largely, CF (46-18 overall record) had one of its best seasons in school history, according to the Lady Patriots’ website, winning the 2022 Florida College System Activities Association South Atlantic District state title for the second time on May 8, as well as placing five players on the all-state team.