May 24, 2025
Bucs Fall in National Championship Game
It was dejavu for the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers at the NJCAA World Series, as after dropping a 3-1 decision to the Northwest Florida State Raiders in the semifinals on Friday, the Bucs suffered nearly the same fate in a 4-1 defeat in the National Championship Game on Saturday to finish at the 2025 NJCAA National Runners-Up.
YUMA, Ariz.- It was dejavu for the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers at the NJCAA World Series, as after dropping a 3-1 decision to the Northwest Florida State Raiders in the semifinals on Friday, the Bucs suffered nearly the same fate in a 4-1 defeat in the National Championship Game on Saturday to finish at the 2025 NJCAA National Runners-Up.
In a rematch of the 2023 National Championship Game, the Bucs put a runner in scoring position in both of the first two innings, but both were stranded at inning's end to keep the game scoreless through two.
The Bucs kept the pressure on the Raiders in the 3rd as Kmari Williams and Noelani Livingstone reached with singles to start the inning and Nicole Edmiaston stroked a two out single to load the bases. But as was the case on Friday, the Bucs couldn't come through with the big hit and left the bases loaded without scoring for the third time in the two games to keep the game scoreless after 2 1/2.
The Bucs defense let them down in the bottom of the 3rd as an error on a bunt set the table for the Raiders and a dropped fly ball gave them new life which they took advantage of to eventually score four unearned runs to break the seal and take a 4-0 lead.
It remained a 4-0 game to the 5th when Skylar Brennan continued her big week with a missile off the wall in center to drive home Livingstone all the way from first to cut the Northwest lead to 4-1, but back to back pop outs and a strikeout left Brennan stranded at second and kept it a 4-1 game after five complete.
Lizzy Kwakernaak and then Leah Meyer out of the bullpen kept the game right there, sending the game to the 7th with the score still 4-1 in favor of Northwest.
After two quick outs in the top of the 7th the Bucs showed some life down to their final out as back to back singles brought the tying run to the plate, but a well struck ball ended up in a Raider glove to bring the game to a close and start the celebration for Northwest Florida as the Raiders brought home their first National Championship in program history with a 4-1 victory.
The Bucs outhit the Raiders 9-5 in the defeat but left 9 runners on, 6 of those in scoring position, while committing 3 errors leading to all four unearned runs in the contest.
Brennan closed her FSW career with a 3-4 effort and the Bucs lone RBI of the game while Livingstone was 1-3 and scored FSW's only run of the contest.
Kwakernaak went 5 1/3 innings in the circle, allowing 5 hits and 4 runs, all unearned to suffer the tough luck loss and fall to 17-3 on the year.
FSW finishes their season in the National Championship Game for the fourth time in five seasons, this time unfortunately as the Runners-Up for the first time with a 56-7 record.
Northwest Florida runs the table in Yuma to win their first Championship in program history to finish the year 61-4.
The Bucs had five players named to the All-Tournament Team after the contest. Skylar Brennan finished with 10 hits and 10 RBIs to lead the way for FSW. Noelani Livingstone had a team best 11 hits and 9 runs scored from her leadoff spot on the week. Faith Wharton caught all six games behind the plate for FSW while also hitting .438. Lizzy Kwakernaak pitched in all six games, going 2-1 with a 2.10 ERA in 26 2/3 innings worked. Last but not least was Karolina Dvorakova who was named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player at the tournament, handling all nine defensive chances she had while making a number of highlight reel plays in the process.