Softball Loses Playoff Opener on Walk-Off

ACC led for most of the opening game of their NJCAA District 12 playoff game against Cuyahoga Community College, but one swing of the bat was enough for the Triceratops to pull out a 6-5 walk-off win.

In the bottom of the 7th, Tri-C's Reese Adkins singled with the bases loaded and one-out to break a 5-5 tie and give her team the win.

ACC opened the scoring in the top of the first, plating three runs with the key hit being a two-out RBI double by Reagan Sides. Cuyahoga scored one in the bottom of the first and then took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth.

That lead wouldn't last long, however, as in the top of the fifth, ACC's Kenna Tippman led off with a single. With one out, Sides singled to center and with the bases loaded, Jordan Ashley walked to drive in a run and tie the game. Pinch runner Claire Blust then scored on an RBI ground ball by Faith Cousins to give the Lumberjacks a 5-4 lead.

That lead stood until the bottom of the sixth when Tri-C scored on a hit by pitch, wild pitch and a two-out single to tie the game. In the top of the seventh, the Lumberjacks put runners on second and third with two out but were unable to score. 

Dakota Rachow and Kirsten Neubecker both reached base three times for ACC, once by hit and twice by walk. Sides was the only Lumberjack with two hits.

ACC will fight to stay alive in the double-elimination tourney, playing tomorrow at noon in Marysville, MI against either Oakland Community College, Glen Oaks Community College or Grand Rapids Community College.