(Box Score) (Box Score 2)
VIERA, Fla. (March 5, 2023) – Florida National University’s softball team secured a dominant win over the Cleary University Cougars, 12-5 after surviving in a tough game versus the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils, 8-6. This is the second win over the Cougars FNU has executed in their time at the USSSA Space Coast Games in Viera, FL. FNU fell behind early 5-1 to the Cougars but took control of the game midway en route to their eighth win this season.
In game one, FNU gave up eight hits and six runs in the win. The Blue devils and the Conquistadors committed just two errors while FNU connected on seven hits.
FNU fell behind during its 11:30 a.m. game versus the Cougars, trailing 5-1 entering the fourth inning. FNU’s lone run up unitl that point came courtesy of a single from Janessa Esquibel that scored Yleisha Perez. FNU gave up four runs and four hits in the third inning but would go on to outscore the Cougars 11-0 in the next four innings.
FNU tied up the game in the fourth thank in part to a three-RBI double from Danika Lagodzinski that pushed Perez, Hayley Zimmerman and Ana De Oliveira Obando in for the score. Lagodzinski scored a few plays later off another single from Esquibel.
In the fifth, FNU scored four runs but recorded no hits in the frame. The Conquistadors went to work between the bases, as Alexis Lendo stole third and was able to make it home for the run off an error from the Cougar catcher. Sabrina Castelli and Perez both scored on a wild pitch before Megen Johnson ran in the final run of the fifth for FNU.
Leading 9-5 was not enough for the Conquistadors as Kaylee Pitman, Perez and Castelli scored one run apiece to secure FNU’s second win of the afternoon and third victory in Viera, Fla. FNU had nine hits and two errors for the contest while Cleary connected on nine hits and committed three errors.
Up Next: Softball is set for an 11:30 a.m. game versus Cornerstone before ending the afternoon with a 2 p.m. thriller versus Trinity Christian.
