FNU exits Sarasota with dominant sweep over NCF

(Box Score) (Box Score 2)

SARASOTA, Fla. (Feb. 28, 2024) – Florida National University (10-9) got some much-needed revenge over the New College of Florida Banyans (2-17) Wednesday, posting a doubleheader sweep in Sarasota, Fla. The Conquistadors fell short of the mark in its first meeting opposite the Banyans, falling 7-5 in Lakeland, Fla. FNU strolled to a 12-3 victory in game one and handled NCF for a 7-0 win in game two. 

FNU fell behind 1-0 in the first inning of game one thanks to a run scored by Ke’Asia Waters. FNU’s Thanysha Gil leveled the score thanks to a triple to centerfield from heavy-hitter Alyssa Songer. Songer eventually made it home to put FNU up 2-1 before the end of the frame. FNU’s lead grew in the third thanks to a four-run, five-hit inning. FNU’s run included a huge two-RBI double from Yleisha Perez that scored Gil and lefty Sabrina Castelli. 

NCF gained momentum in the fourth, holding FNU scoreless at the top of the inning and posting two runs off a homer from Madilyn Dutton. But FNU roared back in the sixth, with a two-RBI double from Perez that pushed Songer and Castelli safely to home plate. Emma Edwards, however, had the play of the game with a stellar grand slam that had Perez, Janessa Esquibel, and Gabi Obando. The Banyans lacked the firepower and ended the game with six hits and four errors, while FNU kept a clean game and notched 13 hits. 

Game two saw FNU patiently wait until the third inning to take a 2-0 lead with runs scored by Edwards and Sophia White. The Banyans posted two hits through the first three innings but did not generate a score, as FNU’s fielding didn’t give much away. Edwards struck again in the fourth with an RBI double that gave Perez and Esquibel a chance to slide into home to give FNU a 4-0 lead. 

FNU went on to score two more runs in the fifth and post a final run in the seventh thanks to Obando’s crafty base running to steal home. NCF was shut out for the third time in its inaugural season. 

Up Next: Softball heads to Viera Beach, Fla., for two contests at the Space Coast Games beginning at 12:15 p.m.