(Box Score) (Box Score 2)
LAKELAND, Fla. (March 31, 2023) – Florida National University’s softball team held their own versus the No.17 Southeastern Fire Friday. FNU fell short of the mark in game one losing 2-1 and then failed to get a comeback win after a 3-1 defeat in game two. The Conquistadors stand at 19-13 on the season while the Fire improved to 23-9.
In game one, the Conquistadors fell behind after a game-defining two-RBI homer from the Fire’s Erica Stahl gave the home team the first lead of the game. FNU pitcher Dakota Kulis was stellar from the circle, giving up just two runs and three hits over six innings of play. She walked just one SEU batter and notched two strikeouts.
Facing a 2-0 deficit in the fifth, a single up the middle from Ana De Oliveira Obando allowed Yleisha Perez to score FNU’s lone run of game one. The Fire defense gave up just two hits over the last two innings, holding off the Conquistadors for the 2-1 win in the opener. The Fire recorded three hits and no errors. FNU had another errorless contest and racked up eight hits.
Game two saw FNU fall behind early once again, giving up three runs in the bottom of the first as the Fire put up four hits before retiring the side. FNU’s Megen Johnson breathed some life into the Conquistador offense with a single that helped push in Perez for the score following an error by SEU’s centerfielder.
But FNU could not generate any other run, as the Fire earned its 23rd win of the 2023 season. The Conquistadors had two hits to the Fire’s nine in the loss.
Up Next: FNU softball travels to Jacksonville, Fla., to face Edward Waters on April 3.
