(Box Score) (Box Score 2)
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Feb. 20, 2024) – Florida National University’s softball team (7-6) was the latest opponent to fall victim to a stacked and undefeated St. Thomas University Bobcat (8-0) squad. FNU has fallen in seven straight contests to the Bobcats after a pair of tough losses on the road on Feb 20.
In game one, Yleisha Perez got on base after being hit by a pitch to start the first. FNU was unable to extend their offensive play much past that as the Bobcats got three quick outs to end the frame. STU, on the other hand, jumped to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the inning with two RBI doubles versus FNU’s pitcher Peyton Knight.
In the second, FNU once again stranded a runner on first after Sabrina Castelli posted a single to right before STU ended the frame on a strikeout and a ground play from its shortstop. A pitch once again hit Perez in the third before being she was called out after trying to steal second to end the inning.
The fourth saw FNU place runners on first and second off a single from Madison Sanchez and a walk that put shortstop Tara McCaffery in play at first. But FNU could not get much past the trained hands of STU’s stellar outfield. The Bobcats extended their lead in their next time at bat, with a ground out to third that bought enough time for Mya Achenbach to race safely to home for the 3-0 Bobcat lead.
STU scored for the final time in game one off an error from FNU’s third baseman in the fifth, as FNU was held without a hit through the final three innings. FNU posted two hits and three errors while the Bobcats recorded a clean game and collected eight hits.
Game two saw FNU explode offensively after trailing 4-0 in the first. STU mounted an impressive inning with an RBI double, single, and scored on an error from FNU’s shortstop. STU commanded this lead until the third when an error from STU’s pitcher Melody Vizcaino allowed Castelli to score FNU’s first run of the afternoon. This was the first of five STU errors in the inning which granted FNU the opportunity to score Sanchez, pinch runner Makayla Monckton, Perez and Janessa Esquibel.
After STU ended the third trailing 5-4, the Conquistadors held them to one hit, leading to a game-changing solo homer from Gabi Obando in the top of the fifth. Despite trailing 6-4, STU willed their way back into the contest in the bottom of the sixth.
A home run from Gabriella Gilbert kicked off a three-run, four-hit inning for the Bobcats. An RBI triple courtesy of Kaitlynn Martinez tied the game at 6-6. Martinez later scored on a sacrifice fly for what would be the game-winning score. FNU posted three quick outs in the seventh to usher in STU’s eighth win in 2024.
Up Next: Florida National hosts Webber International University on Feb. 22 at noon. The first pitch is set to be thrown at Vista Park in Weston, Fla.
