ROANE STATE SOFTBALL FALLS IN FINAL FOUR AFTER COMPETITIVE TCCAA TOURNAMENT RUN

A yellow softball rests partially inside a tan leather glove on top of a white base on a grassy softball field, with trees and buildings visible in the distance under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
Box Score
May 9, 2025

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Lady Raiders' 2025 season came to an end on Wednesday, May 7, with a heartbreaking 3-1 loss to Dyersburg State in the quarterfinals of the TCCAA softball tournament.

Roane State struck first on an Olivia Day sacrifice fly. The freshman drove the ball deep enough into the outfield for Shelby Armstrong to tag from third and score the Lady Raiders' only run in the bottom of the first inning.

Emma MacTavish started on the mound for Roane State. The freshman allowed just four hits to 18 batters and no earned runs through 4.1 innings, but Dyersburg tied the game in the top of the fourth following a Roane State fielding error.

"I think her future's bright because she developed so much over the year," head coach Marty McDaniel said of the freshman pitcher. "I expect [Emma] to improve even more next year. She will tweak a few things and get better, but I thought she had a great year."

Alexis Morrison reached scoring position in the bottom of the sixth. The sophomore smacked a double off the center field wall in what would be her final at-bat as a Lady Raider.

In the bottom of the seventh, Roane State made one final push. Jade Brooks hit a single over the center fielder's head. Ashley Allen came in to pinch hit and delivered a base hit out of reach of the shortstop and off the left field wall, advancing Brooks to third.

"[Allen] really stepped up in that one," McDaniel said. "She was injured for five or six weeks of the season, and she's still grown a lot as a player. I can't imagine how good she'd have been if she hadn't gotten hurt, but she's done a great job this year."

Armstrong had a chance to drive in the tying runs with two outs and runners on second and third. In the final at-bat of her impactful career, the sophomore flew out to center field, ending Roane State's TCCAA championship hopes.

"We talked at the beginning of the season about this team setting the standard for Roane State softball," McDaniel added. "They laid the groundwork for where we want to go as a program. That's what I told them in our final meeting — 'You set the standard now.' I'm very proud of this team."

Roane State finished fifth in the conference standings this year. Lady Raiders Softball will return for the fall season in August. Fans can follow all the stats and news at roanestate.edu/softball.