Virgin Islander Jelissa Potter (middle) was perfect on the plate in the last game of the season, going 2 for 2 with 3 RBI. Photo: Supplied

Potter was named to the Sun Conference All Academic team during a banquet ahead of the last game. Photo: Supplied

Jelissa Potter and the Lady Royals finished the season 19-20. Photo: Supplied

Potter finished the season playing 35 games and slugging at .354. She hit 14 RBI from 87 at bats with 23 hits, scoring 16 runs, recorded 3 doubles and 2 triples. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

The Lady Royals end the year with a 19-20 overall record after finishing 9-7 in conference play.

The Fire wasted no time jumping out to a commanding lead, scoring eight runs in the first two innings. Warner’s starter Lindsey Martin was only able to record one out in the first inning before being replaced by Miranda Wrinkle.

Jelisa Potter put the Lady Royals on the scoreboard in the first inning with a single up the middle that scored Tiffani Upchurch. 

The Fire’s scoring continued in the third as they tacked on two more runs to take a 10-1 lead. In the bottom of the third inning, Warner started their comeback by scoring four runs.  Potter drove in her second and third runs of the game with a triple down the left field line. Tiffany Porter followed with a double to centerfield that scored Potter from third; Porter later scored on a pass ball.

The scoring onslaught continued for both teams in the fourth inning as they combined for seven runs. Southeastern stretched their lead to 13-5 after plating three runs in the top of the inning.  The Lady Royals answered with their second straight four-run inning in the bottom of the fourth and trailed 13-9 with three innings left.

Senior Heather Knoop held the Fire to one run over the final three innings as the Lady Royals looked to continue their comeback bid. After a scoreless fifth and sixth inning, the Lady Royals pushed two runs across in the bottom of the seventh but Tabatha Martin was thrown out at the plate to end the game and the season for the Lady Royals. 

Lindsey Martin (7-6) suffered the loss after recording just one out in the first inning. Miranda Wrinkle tossed 1.1 innings and surrendered four runs without giving up a hit. Heather Knoop pitched the final 5.1 innings and allowed six runs on 10 hits. Together the Lady Royals’ pitching staff walked seven batters in the game while hitting two batters.

Offensively, the Lady Royals pounded out 12 hits and scored 11 runs. Laura Lovell led the team going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Jelisa Potter was perfect at the plate (2-for-2) with three RBIs. Tabatha Martin also had two hits (2-for-5) with a run scored. 

Sarah Kruysman, batting out of the ninth spot in the order, was 2-for-3 with a walk. Tiffani Upchurch failed to record a hit in her collegiate finale but walked three times and scored three runs.

Potter finished the season playing 35 games and slugging at .354. She hit 14 RBI from 87 at bats with 23 hits, scoring 16 runs, recorded 3 doubles and 2 triples.

Ahead of what turned out to be the last game of the season, The Sun Conference announced the 2013 All-Conference Softball team at the conference tournament banquet hosted by the National Training Center on Wednesday evening, May 8, 2013 at the Clermont Community Center. Also at the banquet the Academic All-Conference team was announced. Warner University dominated the list by placing seven student-athletes on the honor roll; no other league team had more than four representatives. Lady Royals on the team were: Lindsey Martin, Jelissa Potter, Stefani Bonilla, Laura Lovell, Haylee Padgett, Tiffany Porter, Tabatha Martin and Tiffani Upchurch.

In order to be considered for the Academic All-Conference team, nominees must maintain a 3.5 or better grade point average and have completed at least two full semesters at their respective institutions.