CLEARWATER, Fla. - Florida SouthWestern State College won its fourth FCSAA Division I Softball Championship on Friday, defeating Chipola College, 7-3, at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.

In a tournament that saw multiple upsets, Florida SouthWestern stayed the course and won three games in three days to claim the crown and the FCSAA's first of two automatic bids to the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series as the South Atlantic District A Champion. 

Chipola came into Friday on the heels of a pair of one-run victories - the Indians beat Indian River State College, 2-1, in the opening round then rallied for a 6-5, nine-inning win over Eastern Florida State College on Thursday. 

Florida SouthWestern wasted no time on Friday. 

The tournament's Most Outstanding Player Skylar Brennan scored on Nicole Edmiaston's first-inning double for the first run of the game. Brennan smacked a grand slam an inning later to stake the Bucs to a 5-0 lead. 

That was more than enough for FSW starter Lizzy Kwakernaak, who went six innings. Kwakernaak was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Pitcher. 

She carried a shutout into the sixth before yielding a three-run homer to Anyela Gomez. 

Kwakernaak struck out six. 

Brennan and Edmiaston had three hits each for FSW. 

Gomez was 1-for-3 for Chipola and Diana Arcay went 2-for-3. 

Brennan and Kwakernaak were joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates Nicole Edmiaston and Faith Wharton. 

By virtue of winning the FCSAA Championship, FSW's Robert Iamurri was named FCSAA Division I Softball Coach of the Year. 

Chipola punches ticket to Yuma

Despite the loss to Florida SouthWestern, Chipola was assured of another opportunity to advance to the World Series and did just that with a 5-1 win over Santa Fe College in Saturday's finale in Clearwater, also designated as the NJCAA DI South Atlantic District B Championship Game. 

Santa Fe eliminated Northwest Florida State College in Friday's fourth game to advance to Saturday. 

A three-run third by Chipola gave Lauren Grantham all the run support she needed. Grantham scattered eight hits and two walks over seven innings. 

Grantham earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team along with Gomez and teammates Kayla Franklin and Diana Arcay.

Santa Fe was represented Madison Conway, Karris Rhine and Camryn VanGalder. 

Also making the All-Tournament Team were Eastern Florida State College's Avery Velazquez, Seminole State College's Anna Green, and Northwest Florida State College's Cailyn Heyl and Sister Arnold.