A Bailey Fernandez homer caps off an 11-1 Conquistador win over UFTL.
A Bailey Fernandez homer caps off an 11-1 Conquistador win over UFTL.

(Box Score) (Box Score 2)

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. (April 26, 2023) – Designated player Bailey Fernandez swings her bat confidently and bombs a stellar two-RBI home to left center for Florida National University’s eleventh run of the afternoon. 

Rushing with glee to home plate, her jubilant teammates pat her helmet in celebration on their way to a five-inning blowout.

The Conquistadors pulled away with an 11-1 win to open an afternoon doubleheader versus the University of Fort Lauderdale. Game two saw the Eagles regroup for a stunning 8-0 victory to split the road trip. FNU racked up 12 hits in game one and just four in the second, while the Eagles connected on 13 hits through both games.

In the opener, FNU got on the board first with an RBI single from Ana De Oliveira Obando and a two-RBI single from Fernandez. With a 3-0 lead and four hits after one inning, FNU went on a six-run, six-hit tear in the second for a commanding nine-run lead. Megen Johnson, Janessa Esquibel, De Oliveira Obando, Tara McCaffery, Fernandez and pinch runner Adalis Arroyo all made their way around the diamond to home for an FNU score.

A routine ground out to third base on Johnson brought the inning to a close. Following Fernandez’s homer in the third, the Eagles avoided the shutout out on an RBI single before two quick outs ended the game in five innings. 

In game two, the Eagles soared, jumping to a 2-0 lead in the first off three hits in the opening frame. Three more runsfollowed in the second, as the Conquistadors had just one hit a piece from Fernandez and McCaffery through two. A costly hit by pitch with the bases loaded thrown by Esquibel made it 6-0 entering the fifth. 

The Eagles put up two more runs to shut out the Conquistadors at Barry University. FNU totaled two errors in the contest while the Eagles recorded zero.

Up Next: FNU softball heads to the CAC tournament at Georgia Gwinnett College.