(Box Score) (Box Score 2)
WESTON, Fla. (Feb. 22, 2024) – In its first home doubleheader at Vista Park in Weston, Fla., Florida National University’s softball team (8-7) bounced back from a 7-2 loss in game one opposite the Webber International University Warriors (3-6) for a 1-0 win in walk-off fashion in game two. The Conquistadors posted seven hits and two errors in game one before connecting on five hits in game two.
Webber faced an early deficit in the opener following a run scored by Janessa Esquibel on a sacrifice fly from Sophia White. This FNU lead was shortlived, however, as the Warriors jumped to a 3-1 lead in the second, generating runs off a single, wild pitch and a sacrifice fly. FNU ended the frame on a 5-3 groundout.
WIU held this lead through three innings and allowed FNU to post just two hits through that period. In the fifth, Webber recorded a monster four-run inning courtesy of an RBI double from Samantha Proctor and a home run to left center field by pinch hitter Johnkiria Bland. FNU would score on a walk in the bottom of the sixth but Webber held on for the 7-2 victory after catcher Heather Cuddy was put out at centerfield.
Game two saw both sides extremely clean in the field play, with the first error of the contest coming in the bottom of the seventh. The first hit of the contest came in the bottom of the third, after shortstop Tara Mccaffery doubled to right field followed closely behind by a single from Alyssa Songer. Webber ended FNU’s momentum moments later on a double play and a strikeout on Yleisha Perez.
The Warriors’ lone hit of the contest came in the top of the fourth when Thalia Romero connected on a single before FNU ended the inning. The home team looked to break through the 0-0 deadlock in the sixth after lefty Sabrina Castelli used her touch with the bat to single right in front of Webber’s pitcher. The Warriors were once again able to get out of the frame on three quick outs.
FNU propelled its way to win in the seventh as Cuddy singled down the left field line before her pinch runner Sydni Bigelli moved to second on an error from the Warriors shortstop. With runners at first and second, freshman Emma Edwards posted a sac fly to push Bigelli into third. Bigelli took care of the rest as McCaffery bombed an RBI single to score Bigelli for FNU’s eighth win of the season.
Up Next: FNU heads to West Palm Beach, Fla., for a noon doubleheader versus Keiser.
