OXFORD, Ala. – In a gutsy and chaotic NJCAA Division II World Series opening round matchup, the No. 11 seed Johnson County Community College overcame series control issues in the circle – issuing 12 walks – yet managed to edge out No. 6 seed Kirkwood Community College 6-5 at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama Monday evening.
It wasn't a clean win by the Cavaliers, but all three JCCC pitchers managed to strand 15 Eagles base runners to escape jams when it mattered most and pull out the victory and advance. Johnson County will play the winner of No. 3 Jones and No. 14 Black Hawk on Wednesday, May 21 at 3 p.m.
Sophomore right-hander Jalin Lavers got the start and give up eight walks, four runs, three earned, five hits with four strikeouts over five and two-thirds innings. Freshman righthander Elsa Carrillo pitched an inning of relief and gave up a run with three walks and a strikeout and was awarded the win. Sophomore right-hander Brielle Dee pitched the final one-third inning and walked one to earn a save.
Johnson County got on the board early off an RBI double from sophomore first baseman Aspen Burgardt, scoring sophomore shortstop Izzy Carter who singled ahead of her. Burgardt would add another double and Carter a single later in the game to lead JCCC with two hits apiece.
Kirkwood tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third but the Cavaliers regained the lead in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by freshman catcher Maddie Murray and an RBI double by outfielder Katie Kolarik and a sacrifice fly by third baseman Reagan Neitzel in the sixth.
However, that lead was also short lived as Kirkwood bounced back with a three-spot in the bottom half the sixth to again tie the game at 4-4.
In JCCC's top half seventh, Lily Hans drove in what became the go-ahead run with a double then scored on a passed ball to give the Cavaliers a 6-4 cushion.
The bottom of seventh tested JCCC's composure again. A bases-loaded walk, the 12th issued by Cavaliers pitching staff, brought Kirkwood within one, but JCCC managed to close it out for the one-run victory.
It wasn't pretty. But in tournament play, pretty doesn't matter. Wins do.