LAKELAND, Fla. - The Florida Southern College softball team took game one of the Sunshine State Conference series against Eckerd, winning 3-1 on Friday evening at Chris Bellotto Field.
Junior
Skyler Ralstin led the way for the Mocs going 2-for-3 from the plate and scoring a run, while sophomore
Mariah Rodriguez went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
After the win, FSC improves to 5-5 in the young season and 2-2 in the SSC.
The Mocs got on base and looked to get something going in the bottom of the first with a double from junior
Taylor Thomas to leftfield and a single from Ralstin but nothing came across as both runners were stranded.
After the first inning, it was three up, and three down for FSC until the bottom of the fourth when the bats came to life. Leadoff batter
Kenleigh Smith singled to get the hits going and moved around the bases after a Triton error. Smith was in scoring position and advanced on another Ralstin single to load up the bases. Smith then scored on a throwing error from center field that put the Mocs up 1-0. Rodriguez stepped up with runners in scoring position and hit a 2RBI single to right center field that scored both Ralstin and Thomas and put the Mocs up 3-0 after four innings.
The Tritons tried to make a dent in the Mocs lead, scoring in the following inning on interference that made it 3-1, but right-handed pitcher
Ashley Blessin and company took game one of the SSC series.
Blessin improves to 4-1 on the year with one run scored on seven hits, striking out six to finish the night with a strikeout swinging.
Along with Ralstin's two hits, five other Mocs had a hit on the night as Smith, Thomas, Rodriguez,
Leanna Kelly, and
Kelsey Peck all had hits.
UP NEXT
Florida Southern continues to play tomorrow against Eckerd with a doubleheader to decide who will take the series. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
