OXFORD, Ala. — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College nearly pulled off the comeback, but fell in the first round of the NJCAA Division I national softball tournament Monday to Pima, 7-5.
ABAC trailed by four runs going into the top of the seventh, but then caught fire. Alli Eidson led off with a single, Ava Roland was hit by a pitch then Anna Hutchinson walked to load the bases with no outs.
Head coach Mike Reed sent in Akayla Matthews and Trinity Odom as pinch runners.
The Fillies traded a run for an out with Ashley Archibald, then did so again with Dylana Barton.
Elli Bryan kept the inning alive with a two-out single to have two on, but Pima knuckled down for a strikeout to end the contest.
No. 19 going into nationals, ABAC fought out of an early 2-0 deficit to briefly lead.
Bryan and Laney McGee reached according to official play-by-play. With one down, Carter Gore slashed a double to bring home both runners to tie the game 2-all. Roland then came through with a two-out single, plating Gore for a 3-2 lead.
However, it wasn’t to be.
Pima regained the advantage courtesy of a two-run bottom half of the third. The Aztecs tacked on another in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Seven players ended up scoring for Pima, Aubrey Marx driving in three of them.
ABAC got two hits each from Lexi Metts and Eidson. Gore drove in two.
Kaylee Barrett and Jaci Smiley split pitching duties. The Fillies, who won the GCAA and Mid-Atlantic division, fell to 34-17.