Softball team's run ends in final at Region 8 Tournament

The Eastern Florida State College softball team's run at the FCSAA Region 8 Tournament ended Saturday morning in the South Atlantic District B Championship Game in Clearwater.

The Titans, who were the first No. 7 seed to make it to the finals, lost to No. 1 seed and No. 2 ranked Northwest Florida State College 9-2 at Eddie C. Moore Complex to wrap up the tournament.

Eastern Florida State College finished the season 40-25 which is a program record for wins in a season and reached the final for the first time.

Kyla Leppin, Jenna Borkey and McKenzie Jewell were all named to the all-tournament team after the game.

The Titans threatened to score in the first inning, but for the first time in the tournament they were held in check.

But with two outs in the second inning, Samantha Clark and Faith Campos hit singles and Livie Davis stepped up and hammered a ball to center field, scoring both runners with the double.

The 2-0 lead would remain until the fourth inning when the Northwest Florida State College bats came alive.

Ashlyn Shirah tied the game with a two-run home run and then Autumn Vessier stepped up with the bases loaded and hit a long home run to make it 6-2. The Raiders would add one more in the fourth inning before the Titans ended the inning.

Vessier would hit her second home run in the fifth inning to make it 9-2.

As they have done all week, the Titans tried to battle back late but could not cut into the lead. Theisen had two hits in her final game as a Titan. Theisen, Borkey, Campos, Clark, Destiny Lake, Marisa Shoudt, Jacey Boykin and Sam Formosa all played their last game with the Titans.

It was the first time since 2019 that Eastern Florida State College had been to the tournament.