(Box Score) (Box Score 2)
BOCA RATON, Fla. (April 19, 2023) – After an unexpected 16-day hiatus, Florida National University’s softball team was overpowered by NCAA DII standouts Lynn University. The Fighting Knights handed FNU a 4-1 loss in game one of the doubleheader in Boca Raton, Fla., and a sweeping 4-0 loss in game two. The Conquistadors recorded three hits and one error in both games.
The first contest of the afternoon saw FNU fall behind early 3-0 after the Knights picked up three runs on two singles. The Knights racked up three hits in the frame. The Conquistadors recorded just one hit, courtesy of a Megen Johnson single in the first, through the first two innings. At the top of the third, Johnson and Yleisha Perez worked their way to second and third, respectively, before a quick lineout to second on Janessa Esquibel retired the side.
In the fifth, an RBI single from the Knights made it a 4-0 advantage. Notably, FNU’s leadoff hitter Perez was forced to exit the contest after colliding with a Knight runner heading to first and taking a ball directly to the face a few plays later. Freshman Danika Lagodzinski came in to replace Perez as the Conquistadors looked to regroup for a late-game push.
After three quick strikeouts in the sixth, pinch runner and base-running specialist Alexis Lendo stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch before cruising into home after a groundout on Tara McCaffery. This would be the lone run scored by FNU in the afternoon. Lynn secured the win on a routine groundout to shortstop that put out Sabrina Castelli.
In game two, the Knights were able to execute the shutout by connecting on 10 hits in the contest. An RBI homer from Lynn put them on the board first and a three-run, four-hit inning in the fourth was just enough to close the door on FNU’s hopes of splitting the afternoon. Bailey Fernandez, Sydni Bigelli and Alexis Lendo recorded a single apiece in the loss.
Up Next: FNU softball hosts Fort Lauderdale next week Wednesday starting at noon
