OCALA-- The College of Central Florida softball team sweeps Lake-Sumter State College 8-0 (5 innings), 7-0 to clinch its third Mid-Florida Conference title in four years under head coach Kevin Fagan.
CF (45-9), No. 3 in the state and No. 6 in the NJCAA, improved to 18-2 in conference in the sweep with two conference games to go. The Patriots clinch an automatic spot in the upcoming 2018 FCSAA State Tournament, May 3-6, and will face the Suncoast No. 2 team.
CF got out to an early 2-0 lead in the first before breaking it open with a four-run second inning to go ahead 6-0. A double to right field by Olivia Pope in the fifth completed the run-rule.
Pope finished game one 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Takiya London drove in two runs to increase her state-leading RBI total to 62.
In the circle, Lindsay Markham-Rosario (25-3) threw a one-hitter and struck out four for her state and nation leading 25th win of the season.
The Patriot bats continued to fire, driving in seven runs on 10 hits including a career day for Elaina Lukas.
Lukas went 2-for-3 with four RBI, including a three-run homer.
Pitcher Morgan Cushman picked up her 17th win of the season allowing just two hits and striking out seven.
CF will close out conference play on the road at Santa Fe College on Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 and 3 p.m.