OCALA-- The College of Central Florida softball team swept a pair from Lake-Sumter State College on Saturday afternoon to end sophomore day on a high note.
CF, ranked No. 4 in the state, swept the LakeHawks 8-0, 7-1 to improve to 13-3 in conference play and 40-9 on the year.
Morgan Cushman (5 IN, 6K, 3 H) threw a complete-game shutout to lead the Lady Patriots to victory in game one. CF surged out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and tacked on three additional runs in the five-inning route.
CF received strong plate appearances from Tiffani Railey (1-for-2, HR, RBI, RS), Karli Woolington (2-R HR), Claudia Jones (2-for-3, RBI, 2 RS), and Destinee Lizzmore (2-for-3).
The Lady Patriots carried the offense into game two, recording 11 hits in the 7-1 win to complete the sweep. Katie Peters (1-for-1, 2 RBI) and Railey (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 RS) each knocked one out of the park, while Lizzmore went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI in the win.
In the circle, Shayne O'Connell threw three scoreless innings, not allowing a hit and striking out four.
Prior to the Saturday doubleheader, CF honored the following 11 sophomores for their
Brooke Barlow: Barlow will go down as the Patriots' all-time RBI leader. As a freshman, she became just the third player in Region 8 history to drive in 100 or more runs in a single season. She ranked first in the state and second in the nation with 107 RBIs on the year, while also hitting 19 home runs, good for second in the state. The Mid-Florida Conference and FCSAA State Player of the Year has averaged .457 at the plate over her career with 140 RBIs, 112 runs scored and 19 stolen bases to date. Barlow has recorded 51 multi-hit games over her career and was also a first team all-conference and all-state selection and NFCA All-American for her historical freshman campaign.
Kelsee Cullop: Cullop has anchored center field for the Lady Patriots the last two seasons. The NJCAA All-American has averaged .477 at the plate with 115 RBI, 126 runs scored, 11 home runs and 34 stolen bases in her career. As a freshman, she batted .476 and drove in 93 runs, good for second in the state and Top 5 in the nation. The First Team All-Conference and All-State selection has recorded 47 multi-hit games and drove in a career-high 8 runs against Florida Southwestern a year ago. She also received NFCA NJCAA All-Region and All-American honors for her play as a freshman.
Caeley Nix: Nix is a two-year starter at the shortstop position for the Lady Patriots, hitting a career .462 with 121 runs scored, 62 RBI, and 47 stolen bases. As a freshman, she was named First Team All-Conference and All-State as well as an NFCA All-American and First Team All-Region honoree. The MFC and FCSAA All-Academic team member has recorded 48 multi-hit games throughout her career, driving in a career-high four runs in doubleheaders vs St. Johns and Indian River a year ago.
Destinee Lizzmore: Lizzmore is a two-year starter for the Lady Patriots, appearing in 100 games and batting a career .356 with 98 RBI, 78 runs scored, 27 stolen bases and 24 home runs. The MFC 2nd Team All-Conference selection has recorded 25 multi-hit games over the course of her two years, driving in a career-best 6 runs on two occasions including a 2-for-3, 2 home run effort against Daytona State a few weeks ago. Lizzmore was named to the MFC and FCSAA All-Academic teams as a freshman. She currently leads the state in RBIs and home runs, while ranking Top 5 in the nation with 16 home runs on the year.
Claudia Jones: Jones is a two-year participant, appearing in 92 games for the Lady Patriots. She's batting a career .350 with 24 RBIs, 57 runs scored and 16 stolen bases. The Mid-Florida and FCSAA All-Academic team member has recorded 15 multi-hit games throughout her career, including driving in a career-high 4 runs on two occasions this year.
Karly Krueg: Krueg, a Pompano Beach native, has appeared in 40 games for the Lady Patriots batting .337 with 16 RBI, 16 runs scored and a home run. She has recorded 7 multi-hit games this season, including going 5-5 w/ 3 runs scored vs Lake Sumter State on March 14. Krueg drove in a season-high 3 runs vs HCC earlier this year.
Melinda Rule: Rule has appeared in 50 games for Lady Patriots in her two-year career, batting a career .247 with 12 RBI, 28 runs scored and a home run. The FCSAA & Mid-Florida All-Academic team member has recorded 4 multi-hit games throughout her career, including driving in a career-high 3 runs vs Jackson College as a freshman.
Tiffani Railey: Railey, a transfer from Chipola, has appeared in 45 games in her one season for the Lady Patriots, batting .442 with 40 RBI, 40 runs scored, 6 home runs and 23 stolen bases. She has recorded 17 multi-hit games this year, including driving in a season-high 5 RBIs on three separate occasions. Next year, Tiffani will be joining the University of Georgia softball team.
Taylor Cruce: Cruce, a two-year participant from Starke, FL, has appeared in 67 games for the Lady Patriots, batting a career .306 with 20 RBI, 7 runs scored and 2 home runs. The FCSAA and Mid-Florida Conference All-Academic team member has recorded four multi-hit games throughout her career, including going a perfect 3-for-3 vs TCC as a freshman.
Lindsey White: White is a two-year participant for the Lady Patriots, appearing in 49 games and amassing a career 2.03 ERA in 183 innings pitched. As a freshman, she led the state in saves and was named to the MFC First Team All-Conference and FCSAA 2nd Team All-State teams. White struck out a career-high 6 batters on two occasions a year ago.
Shelbee Blackburn: Blackburn, an Alachua native, is a two-year participant for CF. She has appeared in 49 games for the Lady Patriots, batting a career .278 with 16 RBI, 10 runs scored and 4 home runs. As a freshman, she recorded a career-best two home runs in a single game vs Polk State, going 2-for-3 at the plate and driving in 4 runs.