Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 VIERA, Fla. – On the second day of the 2020 Florida Tech Invitational, Florida Southern College softball split two 3-1 decisions against the Chargers. The Moccasins defeated the Chargers of the University of Alabama in Huntsville, 3-1, and finished the day with a 3-1 loss to the Chargers of the University New Haven. Going 1-1 on the day, the Mocs moved to 3-2 on the season while the No. 18 UAH Chargers are now 5-3 following a night victory over Molloy and the Chargers of UNH are now 2-2 on the season.
Kensie Green went 3-for-3 in the first game with an RBI. Kristen Beacham scattered two hits and a walk over five innings pitched while striking out two for her first victory of 2020. Tiana Hernandez earned the save as she came in for the final two innings allowing two hits and an earned run.
Beka Schulte was 3-for-3 in the second game. Hernandez came in in relief of Kaylee Cowart and scattered three hits over four innings pitched while walking three in the loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 3, No. 18 ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE 1
- Beacham in the circle to start the first game for the Mocs got two fly balls to the outfield and a groundout to her to strand a two-out walk at first. After a quiet bottom of the first inning for the Mocs, UAH's Shannon Long recorded the games first hit as she sent one through the right side of the infield. On the next batter, she would advance to second on the strikeout appeal. Lindsey Wilson was able to gun down the runner at home to keep the game scoreless.
- Green opened the bottom of the second with a double to the left center field fence. Jessica Smith would come in to pinch run at second but the Mocs were unable to do anything as the next three batters each quickly flied out. Beacham was able to shut down the Chargers bats as she got a strikeout, a flyout, and a ground out for a 1-2-3 inning.
- Meghan Sexton was hit by a pitch to open the bottom of the third inning and Jadin Dewith and Jessica Bryson would each pop out to the infield for two quick outs. Wilson and Celia Higgins both followed with two-out walks to load the bases. Alabama-Huntsville made a pitching change. Green would send a hard hit ball through the third baseman that allowed Sexton to score the games first run.
- Beacham made quick work of the Chargers in the top of the fourth only giving up one hit. The Mocs would tack on a second run as Jadin Dewith hit into a fielder's choice that drove in Kelsey Peck for a 2-0 Moccasin lead. In what would be her final inning, Beacham had another 1-2-3 inning to keep Alabama-Huntsville off the board.
- Long attempted to start a rally as she hit a one-out triple to right-centerfield. She would score on the next batter pushed a single to centerfield. The Mocs would get out of the inning and win the game as Lila Young hit into a double play.
NEW HAVEN 3, FLORIDA SOUTHERN 1
- Southern opened the top of the first inning with three straight groundouts to the middle infield to begin the game. In the bottom half of the first the Chargers threatened but freshman pitcher Kaylee Cowart was able to strand two runners to keep the game scoreless.
- Maddi Conner singled with one out in the top of the second to get the Moccasin offense going. Peck followed her with a walk and Schulte followed with a single to load the bases with one out. Sexton walked on a full count to give the Mocs a 1-0 lead. The inning ended with two straight ground outs by Leanna Kelly and Dewith.
- With one out the Chargers took advantage of the freshman pitcher making her first collegiate start. After a single and walk UNH was able to advance both runners into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. With one swing of the bat, the game changed as Ava Fitzmaurice sent a ball down the left-field line and over the head of the left fielder and past the outfield fence for a 3-1 lead to the designated home team. That would end the night for Cowart who would give way to Tiana Hernandez.
- Florida Southern would threaten in the top of the fourth as they advanced runners into scoring position but was unable to force a run across the plate as the Chargers defense came up big in the inning.
- Hernandez's night would come to an end as she gave way to Beacham in the bottom of the sixth with two outs. Beacham would walk the first batter she faced and then get Fitzmaurice to fly out to left field to end the inning. The Mocs night would come to a close as they went down 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh.
UP NEXT
• The Moccasins will end the weekend with games against No. 4 West Florida and Molloy (Feb. 9). Their next series will see them open up Sunshine State Conference play at Florida Tech (Feb. 14-15).
