Offensive Explosion Lifts UB Softball To First Win Of 2023 Over Shaw To Close Out NFCA Leadoff Classic

Columbus, Ga.-The University of Bridgeport softball team closed out play in the prestigious 2023 NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia on Sunday morning with a big 12-3 win over Shaw University in five innings.  With the win, the Purple Knights are now 1-4 in the early going of 2023, and the Bears fall to 0-9.

UB's offense was in high gear in the team's first win of the season, as the quad scored seven runs in the first inning and never looked back banging out a total of 11 hits on the day.

Sophomore Madison D'Amato (Warwick, R.I.) had two hits and drove in three for the winners on Sunday.

Junior Grace Derita (Middletown, Conn.), who was named to this weekend's All-Tournament Team for the NFCA Leadoff Classic, added two more his to give her a total of seven hits on the weekend.

In the pitching circle, Vise Zarate (Cypress, Calif.) earned her fist collegiate win hurling a complete game in which she allowed six hits, three runs (two earned) with four strikeouts.

Up next, the UB softball team will open the Florida portion of its Spring Break Trip on Monday afternoon with a doubleheader against Assumption University that is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. in Clermont, Fla.

2023 NFCA Leadoff Classic All-Tournament Team

Grace Derita, Bridgeport

Charity Henderson, California (Pa.) 

Rylee Gattis, Carson-Newman

Hannah Rose, Charleston

Jessica Lopez, Columbus State

Isabelle "Belle" Bonn, Embry-Riddle

Jules Ryan, Gannon

Katelyn Wood, Georgia Southwestern

Adriana Mungo, Georgian Court

Joni Russell, Hillsdale

Laura Bennett, Le Moyne

Katie Tuggle, Lincoln Memorial

Mackenzie DeVine, Missouri Western

Kyra Knudtson, Northern Sate

Kaleigh Golden, Ohio Dominican

Regina DeDecker, Shaw University

Katie Bracken, UAH

Madison Melvin, West Chester

Haley Downin, Wilmington

Raechel Cutcher, Wingate