SJR State walks-off SCF to win third straight FCSAA Championship

Photo courtesy of Simone Amaduzzi
Photo courtesy of Simone Amaduzzi

PALATKA, Fla. - Three games. Three walk-off victories. Three straight FCSAA DII Softball Championships. That was the story of the St. Johns River State College Vikings on Saturday.

Trailing State College of Florida 6-5 and down to its final three outs, the Vikings put a pair of baserunners on then Madison Driggers delivered the swing of her life - a walk-off homer to straightaway centerfield to give St. Johns River State an 8-6 win in the final game of the FCSAA Division II Softball Championship. 

With the victory, the Vikings move on to the NJCAA DII South District Championship Series against the ACCC Champion. 

St. Johns River State was pushed from the get-go on Thursday. 

After letting a 3-0 lead slip away in the latter innings against South Florida State College, Emma Shipley homered in the Vikings' final at-bat for a 4-3 win. 

In Friday's first meeting of the tournament against the Manatees, State College of Florida scored four runs in the top of the seventh to a erase a 5-2 deficit. The Vikings responded with two in their final at-bat to steal a 7-6 win. 

SCF beat Florida State College at Jacksonville, 15-2, to earn the rematch with St. Johns River State and was poised to extend to the tournament to a seventh and deciding game. 

Down 2-0, the Manatees tied the game in the fifth then plated four more in the sixth, keyed by A'lana Martinez' three-run homer. 

SJR State's Jenelle Cruz, who was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, went 2-for-4. 

Shipley, who earned the complete-game victory against South Florida State on Thursday, was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher. 

Both were joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammates Izzy Lewis, Hailey Pyle and Driggers. 

Martinez led a quintet of SCF selections. She was joined by Bailey Dorr, Bree Urban, Kaylin Smith and Dava Hoffer. 

FSCJ's Zoe Pascoe and Alexis Laura rounded out the 12-person team. 

SJR State's Joe Pound, by virtue of the Vikings' victory, was named FCSAA DII Softball Coach of the Year.