OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The No. 10-seed Johnson County Community College softball team posted the first upset of the 2024 NJCAA Division II World Series, defeating No. 7-seed Phoenix College 3-2 in their opening round matchup Monday at Tyger River Park in Spartanburg. S.C.
Johnson County sophomore pitcher Maggie McNally was solid in the circle. The right-hander surrendered six hits and two runs over seven innings and struck out five batters. It was her 12th complete game victory on the season. She now stands 15-4 overall.
Kansas Jayhawk Conference MVP Aspen Burgardt drove the middle of the lineup, leading JCCC with two doubles and two runs batted in, the second coming in the top of the sixth to give the Lady Cavaliers a 3-2 advantage. Her first RBI double gave JCCC a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, scoring sophomore left fielder Taryn Burkardt who led the game off with a single.
After Phoenix evened the score in the bottom of the first, Sophomore catcher Riahn Pinkerton gave Johnson County a 2-1 lead with a sacrifice fly RBI in the top of the second.
Johnson County will play the winner of No. 2 seed Copiah-Lincoln and No. 15 seed Central Alabama on Wednesday, May 22 at 3 p.m. EST.