Softball dominates versus Fitchburg

(Box Score) (Box Score)

VIERA, Fla. (March 15, 2024) – Florida National University (17-14) recovered from a lackluster 3-1 loss to the University of Northwestern Ohio (6-6) with a rousing 6-0 win over the NCAA DIII Fitchburg State University Falcons (3-7) to close out the evening in Viera, Fla. FNU started its final week at the 2024 Space Coast Games opposite a tough opponent in the Ohio Racers, allowing ten hits in the loss. 

The Conquistadors got their first two hits of the ball game in the top of the third thanks to base hits from Madison Chiudina and Bianca Bartow. The Racers were able to cool FNU’s run, holding them scoreless and running in their first run of the afternoon at the bottom of the frame on an RBI signal to right from Sydney Shaffer. 

Shaffer had the magic touch for the Racers, running in Northwestern Ohio’s final score of the afternoon with a single to center. FNU’s lone score came on a last-ditch effort to make a comeback in the seventh off a run scored by Chiudina thanks to the second fielder’s choice in the inning. The Racers ended the game after Janessa Esquibel was put out at right fielder for the final out of the inning.

Game two saw FNU come to life offensively, with an RBI triple from Gabi Obando that scored Yleisha Perez and ran in Chiudina on an error from the Falcons’ third baseman. Notably, Fitchburg didn’t get its first hit of the contest until the fourth on a single from Adria McKenzie. 

The Falcons were unable to break through, and FNU posted an impressive three-run, four-hit fifth inning to essentially ice the game. Three back-to-back RBI singles from Perez, Obando, and Chiudina proved too much to overcome for the visiting team from Massachusetts. 

Up Next: FNU softball and Aquinas College go head-to-head in a 10 a.m. doubleheader in the Conquistadors’ final appearance in the Space Coast Games.