LAKELAND, Fla. - The Florida Southern College softball team split the midweek doubleheader with the visiting Adelphi University on Tuesday afternoon as the Mocs won game one 3-2, before falling in game two 12-2 on Chris Bellotto Field.
The Moccasins (4-17) were led by
Shelbie Valencia, who went 3-for-5 on the night with three RBIs and a triple. In the circle,
Des Aitken (2-7) earned the win, pitching a complete game, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out four batters total.
The Panthers (1-1) were led by Angelina Kellogg, who went 4-for-7 from the plate.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 3, ADELPHI 2
In their first game of the season, the Panthers led off with back-to-back singles to open the top of the second to get runners in scoring position early. A one-out ground out moved the runners and quickly scored in the next two at-bats on RBI singles to get out to a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, FSC cut the lead, scoring a two-out double from
Jadyn Bushnell, trading positions with
Alissa Kessler getting into scoring position from a double to left field to make it 2-1.
In the bottom of the third, Valencia tripled down the left field line to tie the game, scoring
Kate Mikle, who reached first with a single up the middle to make it 2-2. In the bottom of the fifth, Mikle tied the game, reaching on a hit by pitch, moved around the bases to third, and was brought home from another RBI from Valencia, this one being a single to right center field that took the lead for Florida Southern.
With only one more opportunity for Adelphi to tie the game, FSC made quick work in the top of the seventh, forcing a double play to end game one and earn a 3-2 victory.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 2, ADELPHI 12
The nightcap brought a faster start, with the Panthers putting three runs on the board before the Mocs got a chance to bat.
In the bottom of the fourth,
Keira Morris led off with a bunt to reach first but was never able to make it past second. Adelphi scored four more runs in the top of the fifth, as a Moc error, a double, and a single gave the Panthers a 7-0 lead.
Another Valencia RBI scored
Gabby Young, who led off with a single to left center field in the bottom of the sixth to make a dent in the Panthers lead, 7-1.
Kelly Keating hit a ground out to the shortstop but earned the RBI, scoring
Shelby Savitt, who singled to left field to get on.
In the top of the seventh, the game got further out of reach as Adelphi put up their highest scoring inning of the evening in the last one with five in the seventh. Jordyn Pasqueralli hit a two-out double, clearing the loaded bases for the Panthers to get up to double digits and win game two, 12-2.
Florida Southern returns to Sunshine State Conference action on Friday, March 7, with a single game against Embry-Riddle. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
