Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Southern College opened its 40th season with a doubleheader split against Ursuline College. The Mocs (1-1) took game one, 1-0 and then dropped game two, 2-1 to the Arrows (1-5).
Freshman Tiana Hernandez shined in her collegiate debut as she threw a complete-game shutout. Hernandez allowed three hits and struck out eight batters in seven scoreless innings pitched.
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME 1: FSC 1, Ursuline 0
- Hernandez struck out five of the first eight batters she faced over the first two innings. In the bottom of the first, the Arrows starter walked the first three Moccasin batters to load the bases with no outs. She quickly exited the inning unscathed after the Mocs grounded out to the pitcher, popped out to the catcher and lined out to the third base.
- The visitors opened the top of the third with a base hit and a hit batter. The runners would move in o scoring position on miscommunication by the Mocs defense. Hernandez would get two quick outs on the next batter as Celia Higgins would make a heads up double play and double off the runner at second. The final out of the inning would keep the game scoreless as the Arrows Brooklyn Miller grounded out to third.
- Higgins lead off the bottom of the third with a walk and with two out would advance to second on a passed ball. Kensie Green sent a ball to right field that was just deep enough to score Higgins from second to give the Mocs the eventual winning run.
- Ursuline's leadoff batter of the fourth inning with a double down the right-field line but that would be all they could manage as Hernandez retired the next three batters with ease.
- The Mocs would threaten in the fourth inning as they would get two runners in scoring position on a passed ball. Higgins would pop out to third to end the threat.
- The fifth and six innings would prove uneventful. Alex Mace's one-out single in the fifth would prove to be the only base runner during the two innings. Hernandez closed out her collegiate debut with three quick outs on ground balls to the infield.
GAME 2: Ursuline 2, FSC 1
- Kristen Beacham started game two for the Mocs and sent down her first batter swinging. After walking the next batter she would settle in and put a zero on the board in the first inning.
- Jessica Bryson got things going in the bottom of the first as she sends a long fly ball to the warning track and raced around the bases with a stand-up triple. She could come around to score on a passed ball to give the Mocs a first inning 1-0 lead. Higgins would single up the middle on the next pitch. As the Arrows starting pitcher struggled to find the strike zone, Higgins would move into scoring position on a wild pitch. Kelsey Peck would ground out to the pitcher but it would be a productive out as Higgins would move over to third. Ursuline would get out of the inning allowing just one run as Mace grounded out to the pitcher.
- Beacham opened the top of the second with back-to-back swinging strikeouts. She would get out of the inning with a ground out to third base.
- Green opened the bottom of the second inning with a base hit to centerfield. Maddi Conner would reach base on a fielder's choice that caught pinch-runner Jessica Smith at second base. FSC loaded the bases with back-to-back two-out singles by Lindsey Wilson and Jadin Dewith. Bryson would hit into a fielder's choice to end the home team's threat.
- Beacham would walk the leadoff batter in the top of the third inning. The Arrows would move her into scoring position on the next two batters. The senior pitcher would get out of the inning as she caught the next batter looking and got the final out on a fly ball to left field.
- After entering the game in the top of the fifth inning, Hernandez would face four batters in the fifth. She would allow the first two batters of the sixth inning to reach base and would advance to second and third on a groundball out to third. Calling on a pinch hitter, the Arrows would score their first run of the season on a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners and tie the game at 1-1. Ursuline would quickly take the lead on the next batter as they sent the batter home.
- Bryson would look to get the Mocs on the board to tie the game as she recorded a hit to centerfield.
UP NEXT
The Moccasin's next eight games will take place in Melbourne, Fla. This weekend they will play five games in three days at the USSSA Complex, beginning with one against West Alabama (Feb. 7). Saturday the 8th, they take on New Haven and Alabama-Huntsville. The weekend will end with games against West Florida and Molloy (Feb. 9).
