Softball Falls to Sharks in Doubleheader

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Florida Southern College softball team played continued action in Fort Lauderdale as they concluded action against RV Nova Southeastern University in a doubleheader for the second and third game in the last Sunshine State Conference road series at the AD Griffin Complex on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Mocs (15-28, 7-15 SSC) dropped their second game against the Sharks (29-12, 14-8 SSC) with a 10-2 loss in six innings. The Sharks outhit the Mocs by five, with a total of nine to the Mocs' four hits. Onto game two of the doubleheader, the Mocs fell again to the Sharks in an 8-0 6-inning loss. Florida Southern had five hits but was outpaced by NSU's eight hits throughout the game.
 
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 2, NOVA SOUTHEASTERN 10
Gabby Young led from the plate with two of the Mocs four hits. Kenleigh Smith and Kate Mikle followed close behind with each contributing a hit. Smith hit a triple, as well, and scored a run for the Mocs. Mikle hit a double. Morgan Roden also contributed to the Mocs offense, scoring the other run for the Mocs. 
 
In the circle, Julia Allen (7-1) earned the win for the Sharks allowing just two runs on four hits. On the offensive front, NSU was led by Brenna Lokensky and Tori Copeland both had two hits and batted in two runners. 
 
Smith led off the top of the first hitting a triple to get the Mocs into scoring position early.  Mikle followed up with a double allowing Smith to run home and score a run for Florida Southern, 1-0. 
 
At the start of the second, Florida Southern made it as far as second base with a walk and stolen base from Jadyn Bushnell before they had their third out. The Sharks were eager to even up the score as Copeland hit a double that changed the pace of the inning, with NSU taking a one-run lead over FSC going into the third inning.
 
At the bottom of the third, the Sharks seized the momentum with two doubles bringing the score to 4-1 before two singles and a sacrifice bunt to widen the gap further for an 8-1 lead into an uneventful fourth inning.
 
At the top of the fifth inning, Roden walked to first, setting up for later when Young sent a single down the left-field line. Roden ran home, bringing the score up 8-2. Nova Southeastern was again unable to complete any runs by the end of the fifth.
 
Going into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Sharks made one last push, scoring two more runs for a run-rule score of 10-2 and taking game one of the doubleheader and heading into the final game of the three-game series.
 
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 0,  NOVA SOUTHEASTERN 8
Destiny Colgate, Taylor Thomas, Cat Buckner, Shelbie Valencia, Mikle all contributed a hit for the Mocs. Both Thomas and Colgate hit doubles over the course of the game.
 
Drogemull (17-7) again led the Sharks in the circle, securing the win with no hits on five hits and no strikeouts. From the plate, designated player Aubrey Hutzler led the way going 3-for-3 with three RBIs. 
 
The game started with an uneventful first inning, with neither team gaining ground in the opening plays. NSU advanced as far as third base before a third out ended the inning.
 
The Mocs suffered a similar fate in the top of the second, with Thomas making it to third before a third out ended the play. Into the bottom, the Mocs stopped the Sharks dead in their tracks, catching a Shark attempting to steal to end the inning.
 
At the bottom of the third, Nova Southeastern managed to rally and put two runs up on the board to put the shutout for right-handed pitcher Ashley Blessin out of reach. The third inning drew to a close with the Sharks leading by two for a score of 2-0.
 
The fourth inning saw another deadlock with neither team gaining ground. A double play stopped Florida Southern in their tracks, while third baseman Valencia stopped a Shark before she could complete the run. 
 
With the score still at 2-0, Nova would lead off the bottom of the sixth inning, with a walk and load the bases on back-to-back singles with no outs. A sacrifice fly gave the Mocs the first out but the runner would score from third to make it a 3-0 lead for the Sharks. Hutzler was up to bat and continued to stay hot trading places with the runner at second to increase NSU's lead to 4-0. Another sacrifice fly allowed the Sharks to tack on another run followed by a two-run homer to end the game within 8-0 final from Gianna Russo.
 
Florida Southern returns to Chris Bellotto Field for another Sunshine State Conference series against Embry-Riddle with a doubleheader scheduled for April 26th. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. with the series finale on April 27 as they honor the seniors prior to the first pitch.
 
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