LAKELAND, Fla. - The Florida Southern College softball team had a tough loss to close out the weekend of games as they fell in the doubleheader to West Alabama. The Moccasins (1-7) fell in game one 2-0 before falling in game two 7-0 on Chris Bellotto Field.
In game one,
Keira Morris led the way, going 1-for-2, while
Shelbie Valencia went 1-for-3. In game two, Valencia continued her hot hitting going 2-for-3, as
Kelly Keating had a perfect day from the plate going 2-for-2. In the circle,
Des Aitken pitched a total of 2.2 innings, striking out three, along with
Kayla Hickey pitching 3.1 innings and sending the Tigers back to the dugout with strikeouts.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 0, WEST ALABAMA 2
Game one started slow for the Mocs as the first hit came in the bottom of the fourth from Valencia with a single to right center field to give FSC a chance with runners on the corner as Morris was walked to lead off the inning. Valencia's hit was a two-out single, so both runners were stranded to leave the game scoreless after four complete innings.
In the top of the fifth, West Alabama got a runner on with a walk and moved into scoring position with a stolen base. The Mocs were looking for the final out to get out of the inning, but a Moc error allowed the Tigers to take a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the sixth, a two-out homer from Taylor Clegg increased the Tigers lead to 2-0 as we headed into the Mocs' best inning of game one.
Izzy Barrios walked to lead off the inning and moved into scoring position after a single to right field from Morris before West Alabama called to the bullpen for a pitching change.
Jadyn Bushnell hit a sacrifice bunt to move the runners, but back-to-back strikeouts left runners stranded.
Florida Southern headed into the final inning trying to make a push with pinch hitters, but game one went to the Tigers with a 2-0 final.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 0, WEST ALABAMA 7
The Tigers opened game two with three hits, leading off with a single picked off by the Mocs defense on a throw down from catcher
Morgan Roden to second baseman Barrios for the second out of the inning. FSC needed just one out, but an RBI double to right center field allowed the Tigers to open game two with an early 1-0 lead.
In the following inning, West Alabama tacked on another run, taking advantage of a Moc error to make it 2-0. In the top of the fourth, the Tigers increased its lead to 4-0 scoring from an RBI single and stolen base before Hickey stepped into pitch relief, earning her first strikeout of the night.
In the top of the sixth, UWA scored on another Moc error to make it 5-0 before Hickey ended the inning with another strikeout. At the bottom of the sixth,
Cam Nolte stepped in to pinch hit, earning her first collegiate hit with a single to center field. Nolte advanced into scoring position after another Valencia single, and Keating walked to load the bases. The Mocs felt a run in their veins, but a hard-hit grounder left the Mocs scoreless after six complete innings.
West Alabama hit a solo shot on the first pitch she saw for a homer over the left field fence and increased the Tigers lead to 6-0. A one-out triple allowed West Alabama another opportunity as they had the final run come across home plate on a sacrifice fly to end the game 7-0.
Florida Southern returns to action on Friday, February 14, as they open Sunshine State Conference action at Rollins. The first serve is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
