The Archers upset two higher seeds today at the NJCAA DII Softball World Series to advance as 1 of 8 teams remaining in the tournament.

In the game 1 matchup between St. Louis Community College and Bryant and Stratton College (WI), St. Louis Community College emerged victorious with a final score of 3-0. 

St. Louis Community College got on the board early in the first inning when Gretchen Trello  scored on a muffed throw by the shortstop, giving them a 1-0 lead. The game remained scoreless until the sixth inning when Abby Bellamy  drove in Natalee Watts  with a fielder's choice, extending their lead to 2-0. In the seventh inning, Gretchen Trello  sealed the victory for St. Louis Community College with a solo home run to center field, bringing the final score to 3-0.

Pitcher Aaralyn Ranck  of St. Louis Community College had a strong performance, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing no runs on three hits. Jaden Howard  came in as relief and pitched 3.1 innings, also keeping Bryant and Stratton College off the scoreboard.

The win advanced the archers to take on Central Alabama Community College in another elimnation game. Central Alabama was the team that defeated the Archers in the first round of the tournament. 

In a thrilling matchup, St. Louis emerged victorious with a final score of 10-8. The game saw both teams put up a strong fight, but it was St. Louis who ultimately came out on top.

St. Louis got off to a slow start, trailing 4-1 after the second inning. However, they quickly turned things around in the sixth inning, with key hits from players like Jazmin Reinkmeyer  and Gretchen Trello  helping to propel them to victory. Natalee Watts  also had a standout performance, hitting a crucial home run in the third inning to tie the game.

On the Central Alabama side, B. Milner and G. Mills both had impressive home runs, but it wasn't enough to secure the win. Pitcher Jaden Howard  of St. Louis played a crucial role in the victory, earning the win with a solid performance on the mound.

Overall, it was a hard-fought game between two talented teams, but St. Louis Community College ultimately came out on top with a well-deserved victory.

The Archers will take on Murray State College in another elimination game on Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 12:00 PM ET.

Visiting the NJCAA Network to watch On Demand all NJCAA DII Softball World Series Action.