LAKELAND â€" Brittaney Alderman and Lindsey Powell helped Lakeland’s George Jenkins High School win a lot of games during their stay there, and now the same two players are helping Florida Southern do the same just a few miles away. Friday night, Alderman pitched her third one-hit shutout of the season, and Powell had an RBI single in the third inning to give the Moccasins a 1-0 win over Eckerd.
Now 10-5 in her freshman season at Florida Southern, Alderman gave up a first-inning single to Emma Docking for Eckerd’s only hit. She also walked one and hit two batters, but the Moccasins (17-12, 3-4 SSC) turned two double plays behind her to end the Tritons’ best chances at scoring. Alderman struck out four, retired the final nine batters of the game, and 14 of the last 15, with little margin for error.
On the other side of the line score, Florida Southern had nine hits, including two apiece by Powell, Dani Blake and Erin Foley, who all contributed to the only run of the game. It came after Blake led off the bottom of the third with a base hit up the middle. Bethany Boomer then snapped a bunt between pitcher Alex Sasso and first baseman Dawson Mackenzie for an infield hit, and Foley reached on another bunt single to load the bases for Powell. The junior outfielder collected Florida Southern’s third straight infield hit with an odd-looking play at shortstop, and it was enough to get Blake home without a throw.
The Moccasins still had the bases loaded with none out, but Sasso kept the damage to a minimum with a fielder’s choice at the plate, a strikeout, and another fielder’s choice at third. She pulled off a similar feat in the fifth inning when Powell and Christine Clark both singled with one out, but were forced out at third on ground balls hit to shortstop Sarah Agnew.
The Mocs ended up leaving eight base runners, as Sasso struck out four and walked none, but fell to 2-4 on the season.
One of the reasons Eckerd had trouble scoring was the Mocs’ defense up the middle. After Docking hit her first-inning single, she was off and running on a soft line drive hit by Sasso. Moccasins shortstop Dezirae Parsons caught it on the run, however, and easily doubled up Docking for an inning-ending double play.
One inning later, second baseman Peggy Alex made the Mocs’ biggest defensive play with another runner at first and one out. She stopped a ground ball hit up the middle by Mackenzie, rolled over after fielding it, and flipped it to Parsons on the bag. Parsons then ended the inning right there with a throw to first baseman Elli Howell for the Mocs’ second double play of the night.
Florida Southern and Eckerd complete their 3-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader at 1:00 p.m.
