LAKELAND, Fla. - The Florida Southern College softball team split with visiting No.24 Wilmington University in a battle between the two teams on Friday evening. Graduate student
Maddi Conner led the Moccasins in game two to win on a walk-off double to the left field fence to earn a 6-5 win over the Wildcats. Game one was another close one but fell in the favor of Wilmington after a late battle from FSC, 5-4.
With the split, the Mocs move to 8-6 overall, and the Wildcats close out their Florida trip 8-6 on the season.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 4, WILMINGTON 5
It was a quiet night until the top of the third when Wilmington went on a run-scoring five to take a big 5-0 lead after the top of the inning. Florida Southern answered back to close with a triple to left field from freshman
Kenleigh Smith that ran home on an RBI single from junior
Taylor Thomas to make it 5-1.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Mocs rallied to come within one run as Thomas leadoff with a single to second and advanced into scoring position with a single from sophomore
Destiny Colgate. Sophomore
Mariah Rodriguez singled to left field, scoring Thomas and the runs started coming in for FSC.
Wilmington made a pitching change but junior
Kiki Morris hit an RBI single through the right side to make it 5-3 with two outs. Senior
Jessica Bryson hit a single to the pitcher to score pinch runner
Cat Buckner but the Mocs fell in game one of the doubleheader.
Smith, Thomas, and Colgate all went 2-for-4 with a run scored while Thomas, Rodriguez, Bryson, and Morris all brought in a runner.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 6, WILMINGTON 5
The bats came to life early for both teams in game two of the doubleheader as the Wildcats scored two in the opening inning and Conner answered back with a 3-run homerun putting the Mocs up 3-2 after one inning.
In the next three innings, Wilmington scored a run in each to take a 5-3 lead, until the bottom of the seventh. With two runners on base due to back-to-back Wildcat errors, the Mocs had runners in position with no outs to rally in the final inning.
Thomas singled for an RBI to make it 6-4 Wildcats, but Conner stepped into the batter's box on a 1-0 count and doubled to finish the game in walk-off fashion and split the doubleheader with No. 24 Wilmington.
Conner led with five RBIs, and one run while going 2-for-3 from the plate.
Tiana Hernandez came in to pitch in relief earning her first win pitching three innings allowing only two hits while striking out.
UP NEXT
The Mocs return to action tomorrow for a non-conference doubleheader against Southwest Minnesota State University. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
