The Potomac State softball team (43-4) lost in a 6-5 extra innings thriller to Jones College (MS) in the opening round of the NJCAA Division II World Series at Tyger River Park in Spartanburg, SC. The Catamounts will now face Jackson College (MI) at 12 p.m. in the second round of the double-elimination tournament. 

Potomac State got off to a hot start in the top of the first inning when both Grace Walsh and Alexa Shoemaker each got on base bringing Alexis Bailey up to bat. Bailey picked up where she left off from the region tournament and hit a 3 run homerun to put the Catamounts up 3-0 early in the first inning. 

Jones would strike back in the bottom of the second inning, scoring 1 run, but Potomac State would stay on top 3-1 through three innings. In the bottom of the fourth, Jones would take a 5-3 lead over the Catamounts, until Walsh homered in the top of the fifth to bring the Catamounts back within one. 

Heading into the seventh inning, Potomac State knew what they needed to do. After coming down to their final out, Shoemaker stepped up to the plate, Swinning at the first pitch she saw and sending the ball of of the park for her 22nd homerun of the season and tieing the game 5-5 and sending the game to extra innings. In the Bottom of the eighth inning, Jones would get a runner on second. Their next batter stepped up and singled up the middle, bringing in the winning run. 

Abby Peace went all eight innings for the Catamounts, giving up 14 hits, 5 ER, and striking out 8.