LAKELAND, Fla. - The Florida Southern College softball team earned the sweep to win the series against Eckerd College in Sunshine State Conference action on Saturday afternoon at the Turley Athletic Complex.
The Moccasins (7-11, 4-5 SSC) won game one 6-2, before battling back to win in the final inning 2-1 against the Tritons (7-13, 3-6 SSC).
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 6, ECKERD 2
Amanda Lieberman (2-0) pitched a complete game, allowing just two runs on eight hits facing 26 batters in the win.
The Mocs had 10 hits in game one, with six RBIs and three finishing with two hits in
Kenleigh Smith,
Kate Mikle, and
Kiki Morris.
Skyler Ralstin led FSC with two runners batting in, going 1-for-3.
Florida Southern attacked early, getting out to a 2-0 lead, leading off with
Gabby Young getting on base from a Triton error. Young advanced to third and the Mocs would put two into scoring positions as Morris doubled down the left field line.
Ralstin reached on a fielder's choice, earning the RBI and putting FSC up 1-0. Morris increased the Mocs lead by two scoring on an RBI ground out from Mikle to end the top of the first 2-0.
Florida Southern never gave up the lead, as Eckerd scored a run in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly to make it 2-1.
Morris led off the top of the fifth with a hit down the middle and moved into scoring position from a Triton wild pitch. Morris increased the lead to 3-1 scoring on
Shelbie Valencia's RBI single, followed by Mikle scoring on a
Kelsey Kadlub sacrifice fly to increase the lead to 4-1.
The bats continued to stay alive for FSC as Smith led off with a single in the top of the sixth, scoring in the next at-bat when Young doubled to left center field, making it 5-1. Young came across home plate later, scoring an insurance run from a Ralstin sacrifice fly to finish out the Mocs scoring 6-1.
Eckerd tried to close in on the Mocs but the damage had already been done to take game one of the doubleheader 6-2.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 2, ECKERD 1
Game two started quiet on both ends until the bottom of the fifth, when the Tritons brought the first run across home plate on an RBI double to make it 1-0.
With Eckerd up 1-0, FSC had to rally to take the game into extras, and Ralstin leadoff in the final inning with a solo shot over the centerfield fence to tie the game 1-1.
After the homer, FSC went to work with back-to-back singles from Valencia and
Jadyn Bushnell to get the runner into scoring position on just one out. Bushnell later scored on an RBI single from Smith to take the 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh.
The Tritons had an opportunity in the bottom of the seventh with a walk and fielders choice, but a flyout sealed the fate for Eckerd, securing the series win for the Mocs with a 2-1 win.
As a team, FSC contributed six hits with RBIs from Smith and Ralstin.
Ashley Blessin (3-4) earned the win in the circle for the Mocs, throwing a complete game and allowing just one earned run on five hits.
Florida Southern returns to Chris Bellotto Field on Tuesday, March 5 hosting King University for a doubleheader. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
