BOX SCORE (Game One) l BOX SCORE (Game Two)
MIAMI, Fla. (February 26, 2021) – History was made on Saturday as the Florida National softball team (4-7) hosted the first home games in program history, sweeping the Edward Waters Tigers (4-2) in a Friday afternoon doubleheader.
The first game of the doubleheader saw the Conquistadors score five runs on six hits to down the Tigers, 5-2.
Makayla Peralta led all Conquistadors with two hits, including a double. The FNU centerfielder was part of an outfield that made some stellar defensive plays in the outfield, including a first-inning throw by Peralta to home which kept EWC off the board.
Nini Underwood scored two runs in the game while Zaira Nunez hit 1-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Catcher Julia Frank also went 1-for-3 from the dish with a run scored.
FNU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second and never looked back.
Gabryella Hay (2-3) earned the victory, allowing one run (unearned) while scattering five hits over five innings of action.
Game Two was a pitcher’s duel through the first three inning and both teams combined for just two hits.
FNU got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of three EWC errors to take a 3-0 lead. A defensive error by the Conquistadors in led to three runs for the Tigers as the game was all knotted up heading into the bottom of the fifth.
The Conquistadors looked to regain the lead, loading the bases with no outs however the Tigers tight-roped out of the jam to keep the game tied.
“Small ball” was the order of the day for the remainder of the game as FNU used a Tigers error coupled with “station-to-station” play, manufacturing two more scores to take a 5-3 lead.
Hurler Brandi Kirkpatrick (2-2), earned the victory, shut down EWC in the top of the seventh as FNU completed the sweep of the Tigers. Kirkpatrick tossed a complete-game victory, allowing three runs (all unearned) on just five hits while striking out five. The FNU pitcher also produced at the plate going 2-for-3, including a double.
In all, seven different Conquistadors registered at least one hit in the contest with each of the first five batters in the lineup scoring one run in game.
FNU will next travel to Hardeeville, South Carolina, to take on USCB on Tuesday, March 2. First pitch of the doubleheader is schedule for noon.
