LAKELAND, Fla. - The Florida Southern College softball team fell in their Saturday doubleheader as the University of Alabama Huntsville took game one 3-1 before a late rally in game two for a 9-4 final on Chris Bellotto Field.
The Moccasins (1-5, 0-0 SSC) were led by
Gabby Young in game one, going 2-for-3 from the nine-hole, while game two was led by leadoff batter
Keira Morris going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a double, and one run scored.
The Chargers (6-5, 0-0 GSC) were led by Brittany Slaten in game one, going 2-for-4, and two runners batted in. In game two, Jada Henderson and Sydney Harris led the way, going 2-for-3 from the plate.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 1, ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE 3
It was a three-up, three-down situation for the first two innings as neither team's pitcher allowed a hit. In the top of the third, the Chargers struck first with a one-out single to center field, but the Mocs defense left runners stranded in scoring position to get out of the inning with no damage done.
Young answered back with a solo shot through the left side, but another inning that remained scoreless as FSC and UAH headed into the fourth. The Chargers hit a single in the top of the inning, but it was the Mocs who attacked first in the bottom of the inning, with
Jadyn Bushnell leading off with a single through the left side before a pitching change from UAH.
Alissa Kessler reached on a hit-by-pitch to move Bushnell into scoring position. With no outs,
Shelbie Valencia steps to the plate, scoring Bushnell on an RBI single to the left-center field to take a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, the Chargers took advantage of a two-out rally scoring on back-to-back RBI singles to take a 2-1 lead. In the top of the seventh, UAH increased their lead with an RBI single taking game one, 3-1.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 4, ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE 9
Game two started similar to game one as the Mocs got on the board first, scoring Morris to take a 1-0 lead after she doubled to left center to open the bottom of the first. The Chargers made quick work in the following inning, scoring to tie on an RBI double down the left field line for a 1-1 game after two innings of play.
In the top of the third, UAH broke the tie, scoring on a two-out bases-loaded walk to make it 2-1. The Chargers continued to add to their lead scoring on an RBI single with two outs to close out the top of the fifth. At the top of the sixth, Alabama Huntsville turned up the heat as they loaded the bases on back-to-back walks and a single. With bases loaded, the Chargers scored one from a passed ball, but two more runners were batted in from a Henderson RBI double to make it 6-1 before a Moc error scored another runner to end the inning 7-1.
Alabama Huntsville tacked on two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh before the Mocs went into the final inning ready to rally.
Kelly Keating stepped in to pinch hit to lead off the bottom of the seventh and singled down the left field line to get the rally going.
Ashley Shimberg stepped in a followed suit, hitting a single to third base to put Keating into scoring position. Keating and Shimberg moved 90 feet after
Izzy Barrios was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with two outs. Back at the top of the batting order, Morris stepped into the box, hitting a deep single down the left field line, scoring Keating and Shimberg, cutting the Chargers lead 9-3. An error allowed Bushnell to reach scoring Barrios to finish the game 9-4.
Florida Southern returns to Chris Bellotto Field tomorrow for another doubleheader. The Moccasins will face the Tigers from West Alabama on Sunday, February 9, as the first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
