OCALA-- The College of Central Florida softball team cruised past St. Petersburg College in the first round of the 2018 FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 State Softball Tournament on Thursday evening in Longwood, Fla. The Patriots will now face NCJAA No. 2 Chipola College in the semifinals on Friday night.

Mid-Florida Conference Pitcher of the Year Lindsay Markham-Rosario threw a one-hitter and struck out five to help lead the NJCAA No. 6/ FCSAA No. 3 Patriots past the Titans 8-0 in five innings. The win is Markham-Rosario's 28th win of the season, ranking No. 1 in the state and NJCAA. 

A sacrifice bunt by Gretchen Ebert and a two-out double by Maggie Trgo put CF up 2-0 after two innings. The Patriots tacked on three more runs in the third inning before enforcing the run-rule with a triplet of singles from Takiya London, Olivia Pope and Bailey Wilson in the bottom of the fourth inning. 

Wilson finished the night 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBI, while Karli Woolington (1-for-3 2 RS), London (2-for-3, RS), Pope (2-for-2, 2 RS), Trgo (1-for-2, and Ebert each added a run in the win. 

CF will now advance to the semifinals against NJCAA No. 2 Chipola College on Friday at 7 p.m. Winner will punch a ticket into the state championship game. The game will be broadcasted live on the FCSAA Digital Network at team1sports.com/fcsaa.