LAKELAND, Fla. - The Florida Southern College softball team dropped the series opener to Florida Tech, falling in game one 1-0 on Chris Bellotto Field in Sunshine State Conference action.
The Moccasins (1-11, 0-4 SSC) were led by
Kate Mikle from the plate putting up the only two hits for FSC going 2-for-3. For the Panthers (6–9, 2-2 SSC) Julianna Hynes also went 2-for-3, while Celeste Casillas brought in the lone run going 1-for-3 from the plate.
It was a quick three up three down in the first couple of innings until the bottom of the second when Mikle hit a one-out single through the left side to put the first hit on the board. Mikle then advanced into scoring position from a ground out but was left stranded as the game remained scoreless.
It was not until the top of the fourth when Florida Tech led off with a walk to get the first runner on for the Panthers. She advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt and scored in the next at-bat with an RBI single to make it a 1-0 game.
In the top of the fifth, Florida Tech led off with another single through the left side, but the Mocs defense caught the runner stealing as
Morgan Roden threw to
Jadyn Bushnell for the out at second. The Panthers started to threaten with a double down the left field line and put runners in scoring position at second and third, but pitcher
Des Aitken got the third out with a ground out.
Another hit came from Mikle with a two-out single, but Mikle was caught at second stretching to conclude the game as Mocs fell to Panthers 1-0 to open the weekend series.
Florida Southern returns to action, tomorrow Feb. 22 as they conclude the series against Florida Tech with a doubleheader. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Chris Bellotto Field.
