BOX SCORE (GAME 1) l BOX SCORE (GAME 2)
LAKELAND, Fla. (February 5, 2021) – The Florida National softball team (0-2) opened the 2021 season with a pair of losses in a doubleheader at Southeastern (2-0) on Friday.
The Conquistadors opened the day with a 12-5 loss in Game One of the Friday double dip. Led by Megan Johnson, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, FNU jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first which included a two-run blast by Johnson. However, the Fire responded with eight runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning and never looked back.
Brandi Kirkpatrick (0-1) was handed the loss, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) in two and one-thirds inning of action.
In Game Two, Johnson gave FNU an early one-run lead with her second homer of the day, sending a shot over the left-field fence in the top of the second. The lead would short-lived as SEU tacked on a run in the bottom of the second, 1-1.
After falling behind, 2-1, the Conquistadors tied the game in the top of the fourth with a Madison Bradshaw RBI-single.
Again, the Fire regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth and looked to seal the victory in the top of the seventh. However, Taylor Turner droved in Jona Goolsby with two outs in the inning to knot the contest at 3-all and send the game to extra innings.
Both teams tacked on a run in the eighth. But, SEU ended the contest with a run in the bottom of the ninth on a throwing error.
Gabryella Hay (0-1) was saddled with the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) in eight and a third innings of action. Hay scattered nine hits and struck out four in her 2021 debut.
The Conquistadors will return to action on Saturday, taking on Southeastern in a doubleheader in Lakeland, Florida. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
