The Florida SouthWestern State softball team cruised to a 5-1 victory over South Georgia State in the first round of the NJCAA national tournament in St. George, Utah, on Wednesday.
The No. 1-ranked Bucs (52-3) will play at 4:30 p.m. ET Thursday against Seminole State (Okla.), which beat Howard (Texas) 8-5.
Kelsi Collins didn't give up a hit in five-plus innings for FSW, and Riley Russell had three hits.
Russell led off the bottom of the first with a single, stole second and third, and scored on Merea Makea's groundout. In the second, Shani Klett led off with a single, was sacrificed to second, went to third on a flyout and scored on Paris Woods' double for a 2-0 lead.
In the fourth, Klett reached on an error, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. She scored on Madison Johnson's fielder's choice.
The Bucs added their final two runs in the sixth. Christian Quinn walked and Klett singled her to third. Emily Martin bunted in Quinn, and Klett went to third, then scored on Johnson's single to right.
Sarah Lawton relieved Collins in the sixth and gave up a run on three hits.