Eighth-seeded Chattanooga State finished fourth in the 2022 NJCAA Division I softball tournament in Yuma, Arizona, with its second one-run loss to top-seeded and defending champion Florida SouthWestern.
The Buccaneers nipped the Lady Tigers 7-6 on Friday after leading 7-1 through four innings, aided by four errors. The Bucs got a little sloppy themselves (three errors) and contributed to a five-run fifth inning for Chattanooga State that featured a three-run home run by Ashlyn Holland, her fourth fence clearer of the tournament.
Holland also singled in the first inning for the game's opening score, and Camryn Cernuto tallied two runs. Florida SouthWestern got two in its first at-bat, leaving the bases full, and added one, one and three its next three times up.
Taylor Jensen was 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the win.
The Bucs (53-6) then faced Odessa (55-6), which earlier lost 12-4 to McLennan in the winners-bracket final. McLennan (59-6) meets that winner Saturday for the championship.
The Tigers' 4-2 record in Yuma left them 56-10 for the season. The program's 22 appearances lead the nation.