WVSSAC State Softball Tournament
By Ben Anderson, FM88 Sports Director
June 3, 2026
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WMUL-FM) — Late rock singer Tom Petty’s famous hit “I Won’t Back Down” was the motto for the Hurricane Redskins, as it refused to back down in an elimination game, defeating the Jefferson Cougars 9-5 on Tuesday night at the WVSSAC Class AAAA State Softball Tournament.
The Redskins were coming off falling to Morgantown, 1-0 earlier in the day, while Jefferson aimed to bounce back from a 9-0, five-inning walloping from Cabell Midland.
Hurricane attack with aggression at the plate early on, knocking in three runs in the first inning. Josie Shamblin brought home Layla Hodges. Sophie Dunlap knocked an RBI single into shallow center field to score Kiley Jones. Shaylen Scott would also find her way to home plate on the same play.
The Cougars responded with three runs in the second and third innings, before Hurricane tacked on a run in the bottom of the third to make the score 4-3 in favor of the Redskins.
Jefferson took the lead in the fourth inning with Madi Clark crushing a two-run double into right field to give the Cougars a 6-4 lead and the chance at the upset. The lead did not last, as the Redskins answered back with two runs in the bottom of the frame with two RBI singles from Shamblin, and Hadley Lawson to tie the game at 6-6.
Hurricane put the game on ice, scoring three runs across the fifth and sixth innings to pick up the victory and eliminate Jefferson from the tournament.
Hurricane advances to face the loser of No. 2 University and No. 3 George Washington.
JEFFERSON 012 200 0 – 5 13 4
HURRICANE 301 221 X – 9 13 0
Pitching: J: Hunt, Rummel (5), and Clark; H: Justice, Dunlap (4), and Lawson
Hitting: J: Clark: 3-4, 2 RBI, 3B; H: Lawson 4-4, RBI, 2B