TAMPA, Fla. - The Florida Southern College softball team dropped the Sunshine State Conference doubleheader falling to the #2 University of Tampa in game one in five innings, 9-1 before a closer 2-1 final in game two.
The Moccasins (7-20, 2-16 SSC) were led by
Gabby Young, who went 2-for-3 in both games scoring the lone run in each game. The Spartans (32-1, 15-0 SSC) had 17 hits in the twin bill, led by Alexa Russo, who went 3-for-4 on the day.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 1, TAMPA 9
The Moccasins changed the batting order to open game one of the doubleheader with Young leading off. It looked to benefit FSC's offense as Young singled through the left side to get on early.
Keira Morris hit a sacrifice bunt to move Young into scoring position where she scored from a
Kate Mikle RBI double to give FSC an early 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first, the Mocs defense forced the first two outs but a walk followed by an RBI triple, double, and single allowed the Spartans to jump ahead 3-1 after one complete inning of action.
The score remained 3-1 until the bottom of the fourth where Tampa capitalized on another two-out opportunity scoring from back-to-back RBI singles and a double that scored two runners to increase the lead to 7-1.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Spartans continued to bring runners in on two-out rallies scoring two more for the run-rule scoring from an RBI single up the middle and a sacrifice fly to close out game one 9-1 in five innings.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 1, TAMPA 2
Young led off game two the same as game one with a lead off single this one going up the middle, but Young was stranded as the next three batters went down in order. In the top of the third, Young hit a two-out double to get into scoring position and was brought home to take a 1-0 lead from an RBI single from Mikle to make it 1-0.
With a new face in the circle,
Shelbie Valencia (0-1) got her first collegiate start in the circle as the senior did not allow a run to score until the bottom of the third. The Spartans led off with back-to-back singles that scored on a wild pitch and an RBI single up the middle to quickly take a 2-1 lead.
Alissa Kessler and
Kelly Keating led off the following inning with back-to-back singles but the Mocs could not tie the game stranding the runners.
Valencia and the Mocs' defense kept the Spartans on edge, not allowing another run as the ranked University of Tampa won game two in seven innings 2-1.
Valencia allowed just two runs on seven hits while striking out three batters facing 29 batters and throwing 83 pitches. Senior Mariah Galhouse (12-0) earned the win to stay undefeated in the circle allowing one run on six hits facing 26 batters throwing just 65 pitches.
Florida Southern continues Sunshine State Conference action next weekend as they host Saint Leo University in a special weekend series. The Moccasins and Lions will take the first pitch at 6:00 p.m. on Friday evening with Saturday being the breast cancer awareness game. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Chris Bellotto Field.
