University Softball’s Journey Ends in 5-1 Loss to Jefferson at 2025 State Tournament – Dominion Post Coverage

SOUTH CHARLESTON – The University High School softball team’s journey in the 2025 season ended with a 5-1 loss to Jefferson at the WVSSAC state tournament on Saturday. This match, held at Little Creek Park, marked the start of Day 2 for the teams.

Jefferson’s pitcher, Jersey Rummel, delivered a stellar performance, backed by strong defense that effectively shut down University High’s usually strong offense. The win secured Jefferson a spot in the Class AAAA championship series against Cabell Midland later that day.

“We just didn’t hit well when we needed to,” said MHS head coach Mindy Parks. “Sometimes, it just doesn’t go your way.”

Despite earning eight hits, UHS struggled to convert those opportunities into runs. They left eight runners stranded throughout the game. Initially, they seemed poised to capitalize, loading the bases in the first inning. Lexi Elza drove in the opening run with a ground ball to the pitcher, but that would be the Hawks’ only run of the game.

A pivotal moment came in the third inning when Jefferson scored four runs. They started the rally with five consecutive hits. Brooke Allen began with a double that brought in a run, followed by Grace Dodson and Savannah Smith each driving in a run with singles. Caroline Abe added a sacrifice fly to cap off the inning, putting Jefferson ahead 4-1.

From then on, Rummel grew more confident, allowing only one hit in each of the next four innings. Jefferson added another run in the sixth when Ainsley Phillips hit a triple and scored on Madison Clark’s double, giving Rummel a comfortable margin to finish the game.

Jefferson’s offense combined for 13 hits, with Brooke Allen leading the way at 3-for-4. For UHS, pitchers Sophia Lehosit and Maddie Campbell shared time on the mound, with Campbell showing resilience by only conceding one run in five innings.

Last year’s Class AAA state champions, UHS wrapped up their season with a record of 24-7-1. A tough loss to Cabell Midland the previous night put them in the elimination bracket, making it a challenging path to return to the top.

“We know the pressure of being in the winner’s bracket. Last night was tough, and we didn’t get much rest,” Parks noted. “But that’s how the game goes.”

University High will bid farewell to senior Kelsey Park, whose contributions will be dearly missed. However, the team will return many key players, determined to make a comeback next season. “We’ll be back,” Parks assured. “These girls will be hungry to win.”

For more details on game stats and tournament brackets, check the official WVSSAC [website](https://www.wvssac.org).

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