LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College softball team split their final home doubleheader against Nova Southeastern University Saturday afternoon at Chris Bellotto Field. The Mocs celebrated Senior Day pregame to honor
Jessica Bryson, Maddi Conner, Kaylee Cowart, Tiana Hernandez, Leanna Kelly, and
Kelsey Peck.
The Mocs (22-22, 9-15 SSC) took game one 2-1, including Peck's ninth homer of the season in the win. The Sharks (29-13, 13-8 SSC) recovered in game two of the doubleheader with a 6-4 win to clinch the series.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 2, NOVA SOUTHEASTERN 0
Both teams battled in the circle with the first hit in the game coming by the Mocs when Kelly singled up the middle in the bottom of the third. NSU and FSC alternated hits in the fourth but no score through four innings.
In the home half of the fifth inning, Peck led off with a solo homer to deep left-center for the first score of the game. Peck's homer tied for second in program history for homers in a single season (9). The Mocs continued to get on base with singles by
Kenleigh Smith and Bryson before
Kiki Morris hit an RBI single to send Smith home for a 2-0 FSC lead.
With a two-run lead, the Mocs excelled on defense with great fielding and diving catches in the outfield. In the circle,
Mel Rogers allowed only three hits, no runs, and no walks in her complete game. Rogers added three strikeouts for her ninth win of the season.
FSC outhit NSU seven-to-three as Peck led with a 2-for-3 outing at the plate. Morris, who had the other RBI in the game, had the team's only stolen base.
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN 6, FLORIDA SOUTHERN 4
A change in pace to start game two of the doubleheader with the Sharks capitalizing on an error to score two in the first inning. Florida Southern responded in the bottom first with a
Destiny Colgate RBI single to cut the deficit to one.
The Mocs evened the score with an RBI single by Morris in the bottom of the second, but the Sharks rebounded with four unanswered runs by the fourth inning. FSC was unable to score until the bottom of the fifth when
Skyler Ralstin hit a two-run homer for a 4-6 score, but the Mocs couldn't catch up as NSU won 6-4 to win the series.
Morris led the Mocs with three hits on the day as Ralstin, Colgate, and Smith each had two hits. Overall, the Mocs outhit the Sharks in consecutive games with an 11-to-8 advantage but not enough for the series win. Cowart had the loss as Rogers relieved her to throw three innings and no runs to keep the Mocs close.
The Mocs will be on the road for the final two weeks with a game against Embry-Riddle Friday, April 21, set for a 6 p.m. start at Radiology Associates Field in Daytona Beach.
