(Box Score) (Box Score 2)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 24, 2024) – Florida National University’s (8-9) young softball team hit an early season bump, dropping two games against The Sun Conference’s Keiser University Seahawks (10-3) Saturday. Keiser defended their home field with a resounding 5-0 win in game one and weathered early adversity for a 3-2 victory in game two. FNU recorded five hits and errors in game one and eight hits in game two.
In game one, FNU fell behind early after conceding four runs in the second frame. KU’s Molly Reid reached first on an error from FNU’s shortstop that scored Lizzy Small and Genesis Iglesias. Tes DeBono was the next Seahawk to score after Lacee Travens was put out on a 6-3 groundout. Bridget Dunham made it a 4-0 affair on an RBI sacrifice fly before FNU ended the inning.
FNU was held scoreless through the next two innings before Keiser scored its fifth run on a fielder’s choice that freed up time for Molly Reid to run safely to home. FNU’s Janessa Esquibel got on board with a double to left-center field but Keiser was able to close out the frame with a couple of quick outs. Pitcher Emma Edwards and pinch hitter Heather Cuddy both recorded a hit but did not generate some much-needed scores as both teams exited the field before the start of game two.
Game two saw FNU take a 2-0 lead through six innings after an RBI single from Edwards and a sacrifice fly from Tara Mccaffery that scored Edwards in the top of the sixth. FNU’s freshman pitcher Sophia White did a great job in the circle for the Conquistadors, posting two strikeouts through six innings of play. FNU had a chance to extend their lead after pinch runner Alexis Lendo sprinted and slid into home after a hit from lefty Sabrina Castelli. In a controversial call, Lendo was ruled out to end the inning at home despite having a clear path to the plate.
Keiser used this momentum to post two runs in the frame off RBI singles from Iglesias and DeBono. With the score tied at 2-2, FNU was denied a score in the top of the seventh by three routine groundouts for Keiser’s seasoned players. Keiser started the bottom of the frame in a great scoring position after a double from Alex Perez to left center field. After a walk and a wild pitch, Keiser had the bases loaded before Ashley Bullock blasted a single to left field that sent Perez home for the game-winning run.
Up Next: FNU heads to Sarasota, Fla., for a rematch against New College of Florida on Feb. 28.
