Furious comeback propels Lake Land past Paris in third round
May 17, 2013
STEVE JOHNSON, DIXIE STATE UNIVERSITY
ST. GEORGE, Utah – In arguably one of the wildest games in the history of the NJCAA, #11-seed Lake Land (IL) College rallied for seven runs in its final at-bat to stave off elimination in claiming a 15-13 victory over #12-seed Paris (TX) Junior College in the consolation bracket at the 2013 NJCAA Division I Women’s Softball National Championship tournament Thursday night at the Canyons Complex. Lake Land (50-6) will advance to face #10 seed Weatherford (TX) College in another elimination game Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. (MDT). Meanwhile Paris JC (37-19) sees its 2013 tournament run and season end with the loss.
In a game that saw 28 combined runs and 37 combined hits, Paris JC seemed to be set to advance after padding an already three-run advantage with two insurance runs in the sixth to lead 13-8, needing three more outs to move on in the tournament.
However Lake Land had other thoughts as the Lakers sent 12 batters to the plate in the frame, nine of which reached thanks to seven hits and two walks after a groundout started the stanza. Laker lead-off hitter drew Lake Land even at 13-13 in a single up the middle. Cherise Boyd followed with another single, then after a wild pitch moved both runners up a base, Rachel Keller brought both runners home on a single to right field to give the Lakers the 15-13 lead. Lake Land reliever Kayla Kirkpatrick then set down Paris JC in order in the home half of the seventh to end the game.
Laker infielder Rebecca Patterson led the LLC with three hits and four RBI, while Boyd and Keller also chipped in three safeties. Dara Hendon and Katelyn Bardwell both went 4-for-5 to highlight Paris JC’s offensive efforts, while Samantha Reynoso finished with three hits and four RBI.