LAKELAND, Fla. - The Florida Southern College softball team walked it off to end the doubleheader on Wednesday night as they split with #6 Wilmington University on Chris Bellotto Field. The Moccasins fell just short in game one, falling 6-3, before
Gabby Young hit a walk-off single to win game two 3-2.
The Mocs (3-13) had six hits in game one as
Kelly Keating and
Morgan Roden went 1-for-2 from the plate. In game two,
Shelby Savitt and Young both went 2-for-3 from the plate, with Young hitting the walk and Savitt scoring the final run. In the circle,
Kayla Hickey (2-0) earned the win, pitching a complete game and allowing just one earned run on nine hits, striking out four.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 3, WILMINGTON 6
In the top of the second, the Wildcats led off with back-to-back singles that moved around the bases and both runners into scoring position before scoring on an error to get a 2-0 lead.
Wilmington remained up 2-0 until the bottom of the sixth when FSC tied the game with three singles from Keating,
Kelsey Kadlub, and
Keira Morris but loaded the bases for the Mocs with just one out. A wild pitch scored
Jenna Meder, who was pinch running to make it a one-run game, before
Nei Nei De Jesus scored the tying run to end the inning and head to the final inning with a tied ball game.
In the top of the seventh, the Wildcats bats came to life once again, feeling the pressure from the Mocs as two singles and a double scored the runner to take a one run lead, 3-2. Wilmington continued to add runs, scoring on a wild pitch to make it 4-2, before an RBI single scored two more runs to make it a 6-2 game.
With their backs against the wall, a two-out triple from Mikle scored Savitt to cut the Wildcats lead to 6-3, but it was all the Mocs had in them as game one went to Wilmington.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 3, WILMINGTON 2
The Mocs attacked early in game two as Emma Luccesi hit a one-out single to get on base in the top of the first.
Shelbie Valencia went up to bat and tripled down the right field line, scoring Luccessi for an RBI triple and giving the Mocs a 1-0 lead. With Valencia in scoring position at third,
Alissa Kessler hit an RBI double to left field to put the Mocs up early, 2-0.
Florida Southern kept the 2-0 lead until the top of fourth when Wilmington scored from an RBI single up the middle and cut the Mocs lead in half 2-1. The Wildcats tied the game in the following inning, scoring on an RBI single to make it anyone's game.
The Mocs and Wildcats looked to be heading into extras, as FSC stepped to the plate in the bottom of the seventh. Savitt led off with a single to the left side to put a runner on and advanced to second with a walk to
Jadyn Bushnell to put Savitt into scoring position. With just one out, Young singles to left field, scoring Savitt to walk it off as the Mocs take game two 3-2.
Florida Southern returns to action Friday, Feb. 28, as they travel to Miami Shores, Fla., to take on Barry University in Sunshine State Conference action. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
