LAKELAND, Fla. - Florida Southern College softball team opened up the 2023 season with huge success in a doubleheader against Ursuline College. The Moccasins swept the Arrows winning game one 4-1, and game two 6-0 Sunday afternoon at Chris Bellotto Field.
Kelsey Peck led FSC to open up her senior year with a 3-run walk-off homer over the left-field fence to capture the first win of the season and closed the home opener with another 3RBI left-field homer. This was the Lakeland native's second, the third homer of her career.
Florida Southern 4, Ursuline 1
The Mocs were anxious, to begin with a game that would set the tone for the season. The Arrows' struck first as Casey Barton singled up the middle, scoring Jovanna Herrera for the first run of the game. Herrera reached via a triple to open the game.
Florida Southern kept the energy high, rolling through the third, fourth, and fifth innings where right-handed pitcher
Ashley Blessin racked up a career-high of seven strikeouts for her Mocs debut in one game.
After three scoreless innings for FSC, the Mocs started the bottom of the fourth with a walk to sophomore
Destiny Colgate that later tied the game up at 1-1 when graduate student
Maddi Conner singled to score Colgate.
Needing another run to take the win over the Arrows, the Mocs rallied their enthusiasm as sophomore
Jadyn Bushnell stepped up at the bottom of the seventh inning. Bushnell singled down the right field line, putting her at first base. She was followed by senior
Jessica Bryson who reached safely with a bunt single, advancing Bushnell to second. Peck completed this perfect scenario by driving a 2-2 pitch deep over the left field fence, notching a dramatic walk-off win on opening day, 4-1.
Florida Southern 6, Ursuline 0
The Mocs picked up right where they left off in the second game as they quickly put a run on the board at the bottom of the first. Colgate hit an RBI sacrifice fly to left field scoring Peck.
In the bottom of the third, Colgate singled to left center, advancing to second on the throw. The bats were swinging strong for Peck. She rallied her confidence and followed her game one heroics with another incredible home run to left field, and again, driving in three runs, scoring Bryson and freshman
Kelly Keating who reached on a double to left center field.
Wanting a piece of the action, junior
Taylor Thomas doubled to left center for an RBI, scoring sophomore
Macayla Brady to finish off the fifth inning, leaving the Mocs with six runs over the Arrows.
Right-handed pitcher
Mel Rogers earned the shutout pitching a complete game and striking out nine batters a career-high for the senior.
UP NEXT
The Mocs return to action at the UNG Leadoff Classic hosted by North Georgia. The Mocs will open the tournament facing King University in Dahlonega, Ga. at the Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium. The first pitch is slated for 10 a.m.
