MELBOURNE, Fla. - Florida Southern softball splits the Sunshine State Conference opener against Florida Tech with a 3-2 loss in game one, before a dominating 10-2 win in game two on Friday evening at the Nancy Bottge Field in Melbourne, Fla.
The Moccasins (4-5) completed the doubleheader with 16 hits led by second baseman
Jadyn Bushnell who went 3-for-4 in game two.
Taylor Thomas had two hits on the day going 1-for-3 in game two with a grand slam.
Shelbie Valencia,
Gabby Young, and
Kiki Morris all had two hits on the day, as Young brought in three runners and Morris had two RBIs.
The Panthers (8-4) had 14 hits in the split with Ella Niles leading the way with three hits followed by Katie Hogue, Celeste Casilla, Jolie Miracle, and Kelly Mclaughli all finishing the night with two hits the win.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 2, FLORIDA TECH 3
Ella Torres (1-2) tossed a complete game to open the series allowing three runs on nine hits while striking out two batters.
Florida Tech tacked on a run first in the bottom of the second after FSC went three up, and three down to open up SSC play. In the top of the second and third innings leadoff batters for both innings, Thomas and Young both singled to left field to get on base, but neither would advance the bases being stranded at first base until the top of the fourth inning.
Destiny Colgate led off with a walk and stand at first base with Thomas up to bat next. The third baseman hit a sacrifice bunt, moving Colgate into scoring position. The Moccasins would load the bases with back-to-back singles as Colgate threatened at third base with
Amanda Lieberman and Valencia at second and first. Third baseman
Kelly Keating hit an RBI single to the catcher to tie the game at 1-1. In the next at-bat, FSC took a 2-1 lead off a bases-loaded walk scoring Lieberman.
In the bottom of the inning, the Panthers rallied to tie the Mocs scoring on an RBI single and taking a 3-2 lead on a bases-loaded walk of their own.
In the remaining innings, FSC tried to rally to tie as pinch hitter
Macayla Brady singled up the middle and would advance to scoring position on a fielder choice, but Florida Tech turned the double play to get out of the inning and claim game one with a 3-2 victory.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 10, FLORIDA TECH 2
Ashley Blessin (2-1) got the nod in the circle for game two, as the senior pitched a complete game allowing just two runs on five hits and striking out seven batters.
The second game started with a quick couple of innings until the Panthers broke the silence with an RBI single that gave Florida Tech a 1-0 lead. In the top of the fourth, Morris led off with a single to the shortstop to get the comeback started. FSC took the lead on a Panthers throwing error to make it 2-1. In the bottom of the fifth, Florida Tech tied the game with an RBI single to make it 2-2.
In the top of the sixth
Skyler Ralstin led off with a single through the right side to start the long rally for the Mocs. In the following at-bat,
Kelsey Kadlub doubled down the left field line to get two into scoring position with no outs. FSC would take the lead on a Panthers error, and load the bases with a Bushnell single to left center field. A fielder choice and RBI single brought the Mocs lead up to 5-2 before Colgate would walk and set up Thomas with bases loaded. On a 1-1 count, Thomas hit a homerun deep over the right-center field to take a 9-2 lead.
Young hit a two-out RBI single to the left field and added an insurance run to the Mocs lead, 10-2 before ensuring the Mocs game-two victory over the Panthers.
Florida Southern goes for the series in Sunshine State Conference play tomorrow in Melbourne as they face the Panthers in the final game of the series. The first pitch is slated for 11:00 a.m.
