USA South Title Game Action & Celebration Photos
Action Photos, courtesy of Al Thompson
Action Photos from Altasky.com
Averett Box | CNU game 1 Box | CNU game 2 Box
BURLINGTON, N.C. -- Facing elimintaion three times today, Ferrum College won all three games and claimed the USA South Softball Tournament title. The #3 seeded Panthers beat #7 Averett 1-0 to earn a spot in the title game against #1 Christopher Newport University.
Ferrum posted a 2-0 shutout in eight innings over CNU, and the two were headed to an if-necessary game. In that game, Ferrum jumped out to a 4-0 lead and eventually held on for a 5-1 win. Catcher
Suzanne Plasters had a solo home run as part of a three-run third inning for Ferrum.
Rachel Shumaker pitched all seven innings, allowing six hits and an earned run.
Shumaker, who was one of six Ferrum players named to the All-Tournament Team, struck out three. Joining her on the All-Tournament team was sister
Hannah Shumaker, who earned MVP honors. Shumaker blasted a two-run homer in the top of the eightn inning to give Ferrum the win.
Brittany Barlow (3B),
Shelbie Hall (OF),
Kaitlyn Culler (P) and Plasters also were named to the team. Ferrum's 35 wins this season (35-12 overall) is a new school record for season wins, surpassing the 2010 team's 31-16 mark.
By winning the USA South Tournament title, the Panthers claim the league's automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament, to be held in May. Ferrum's previous USA South Tournament titles and NCAA playoff appearances came in 2002 and 2005.
