LAKELAND, FLA. - The Florida Southern College softball team earned a non-conference doubleheader split to close out its 16-game home stretch against Hillsdale College. The Moccasins defeated the Chargers in game one 7-3 before falling in game two 4-2.
With the split, FSC moves to 14-11 on the season while Hillsdale sits at 10-11 on the year.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 7, HILLSDALE 3
FSC got the runs early scoring three runs in the bottom of the first from a
Taylor Thomas RBI single to score
Kelsey Peck and
Skyler Ralstin who reached on a Charger error and single from Ralstin. The Mocs third run of the game came after a bases-loaded walk to advance Thomas to make it a 3-0 game.
In the top of the third, Hillsdale tied it up on a 2-run RBI double and a single that left it tied up at 3-all for a short time. FSC took back its lead in the bottom of the inning with senior
Jessica Bryson singled to the pitcher scoring grad student
Maddi Conner who tripled to open up the inning.
Peck hit her sixth homer of the season in the bottom of the fourth to increase the Mocs lead to 5-3 and later scored two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth from an RBI double to right field by Thomas and another Chargers error to close out game won with a 7-3 win for the Mocs.
Bryson led the way going a perfect 2-for-2 from the plate with two RBIs, followed by two hits from Peck, Thomas, and Conner. Peck and Thomas scored twice and hit two doubles, and Thomas brought in three runs.
In the circle, junior
Ashley Blessin earned her sixth win pitching a complete game and tying her season-high of seven strikeouts, allowing just one earned run on 10 hits.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 2, HILLSDALE 4
The Mocs attacked first again in the bottom of the second to take a 1-0 advantage over the Chargers on a wild pitch, scoring Conner.
Again, the Chargers tied it up once again with a sac fly to make it 1-1. After four and a half innings, FSC's Ralstin singled for an RBI giving the Mocs back the lead in the bottom of the fifth to make it 2-1.
A single from Hillsdale scored two runners and the Mocs lead was no more as the Chargers took a one-run lead 3-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth. FSC tried to rally in the final two innings but an insurance run for Hillsdale improved their lead by two and the Mocs were left stranded falling in game two 4-2.
Destiny Colgate and
Kelly Keating both led the way in game two going 2-for-3 from the plate.
UP NEXT
Florida Southern returns to Sunshine State Conference action this weekend with a series against #3 University of Tampa on Friday and Saturday. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in Tampa.
