Softball team's run at FCSAA tournament ends in extra innings

The Eastern Florida State College softball team's run at the FCSAA D1 Softball Championships ended with a third-place finish on Saturday.

The Titans lost a tight battle with No. 2 seed Northwest Florida State College 1-0 in eight innings in the South Atlantic District B final at Eddie C. Moore complex in Clearwater.

Avery Velazquez tossed another gem for Eastern Florida State College, allowing five hits and walked just one in the loss. At one point the sophomore retired nine in a row and struck out three in the contest.

The Titans left runners on base in every inning, but the Northwest Florida State College softball team made big plays to keep the game scoreless.

It looked like Northwest Florida State College would win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning but with the bases loaded and nobody out, catcher Emma George hopped out of her crouch on a check swing, scooped up the ball and touched home, fired to first for the double play. Velazquez would get the groundball back to her to end the inning.

In the top of the eighth inning the Titans worked the bases loaded but once again could not get the run home.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Julie Stevens reached on an error and a sacrifice bunt moved her to second. A fielder's choice after Jaelynne Whipple made a diving stop to keep the ball in the infield put runners at first and third for Nyla Treptau. Treptau delivered a bloop single to centerfield, scoring Stevens with the game-winning run.

Avery Velazquez, Annalyn Duncan and Jaelynne Whipple all made the all-tournament team.

Eastern Florida State College reached the District B title game for the second time. The Titans are now 44-17 on the season and will await to hear if they will receive an at-large bid to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament. Eastern Florida State College has never been to the national tournament in softball.

The NJCAA Division I Softball bracket show will be live online on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.