LAKELAND, Fla. — Florida Southern College softball (12-33, 6-23 SSC) earned a dramatic victory over Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (24-26, 9-21 SSC) in a high-scoring affair, securing an 11–10 victory at Chris Bellotto Field on Saturday in walk-off fashion on Senior Day. Prior to the contest the Moccasins honored their three seniors
Alissa Kessler,
Zoe Thornsbury and
Kelly Keating.
The Eagles led 5-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh before a fierce comeback by the Moccasins sent the game into extras. Both teams exchanged runs in the eighth to push the game into the ninth. The Eagles posted four runs in the top half to take a 10-6 lead but another dramatic comeback by the Mocs forced the contest into the 10th. After FSC held the Eagles scoreless, a single by junior
Gabby Young opened the bottom half of the inning. Young was sacrificed over to second. Following a walk to make it first and second with one out, junior
Kate Mikle provided the walk-off single to end the contest.
Embry-Riddle opened the scoring in the first inning with Leah Oberkehr scoring on a sacrifice fly by Emma Wood, giving the Eagles a 1–0 lead.
The game remained scoreless for Florida Southern until the seventh inning, while ERAU extended its lead to 2–0 in the sixth inning when Shelby Morse scored on a double by Gianna Domenici. The Eagles added on three more runs in the top of the seventh to push their lead to 5-0 heading in what would have been the final half inning.
In the seventh inning, Florida Southern mounted a significant comeback. Sophomore
Kara Zweig walked and later scored on a single by freshman
Alyssa Trapani. Shortly after, freshman
Hannah Lewis hit a home run to left center, bringing in four runs. This surge tied the contest at 5–5 to send the game into extras.
ERAU responded in the eighth inning, with Hayley McElroy scoring on a sacrifice bunt by Leah Oberkehr, giving ERAU a 6–5 lead. Florida Southern re-tied the contest in the bottom of the eighth when freshman
Gigi Polanco scored on a single by Young, making it 6–6.
In the ninth inning, the Eagles regained momentum with a three-run homer by Kendall Wilkie, bringing the score to 10–6. However, Florida Southern answered back in the bottom half of the inning. Lewis hit her second home run of the game, followed by a two-RBI single by Zweig. A final single by Polanco brought in the tying run, ending the ninth inning at 10–10.
In the decisive tenth inning, the Moccasins secured the win. Young advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and then scored on a single by Mikle, concluding the game with a final score of 11–10 in favor of Florida Southern.
Lewis delivered a standout performance, hitting two home runs and driving in five runs. Young added three hits and scored a run, making a significant contribution to the offense. Mikle recorded three hits and brought in one run, showcasing her effectiveness at the plate. Zweig scored two runs and contributed two RBIs, further bolstering the team's scoring efforts.
Redshirt sophomore
Natalie Snowden pitched 7.1 innings, allowing 12 hits and six earned runs while striking out one and issuing one walk, using 116 pitches with 68 strikes. Classmate
Ella Torres came in relief, pitching 1.1 innings, giving up five hits and four earned runs, also recording one strikeout and one walk with 24 of her 38 pitches being strikes. Sophomore
Des Aitken closed the game with 1.1 innings, allowing just one hit on 18 pitches, 13 of which were strikes, and secured her seventh win of the season, improving her record to 7–12.
Leah Oberkehr stood out for the Eagles by scoring two runs and stealing three bases, showing her effectiveness on the basepaths. Emma Wood contributed significantly with three RBIs, collecting two hits in the game. Shelby Morse made an impact at the plate, collecting three hits, including a double, while also pitching 7 1/3 innings. Gianna Domenici showcased her batting skills by securing three hits and one RBI, including a double. Kendall Wilkie delivered an impressive performance, scoring two runs, driving in three RBIs, and hitting a home run, further highlighting her offensive contributions.
