Box score

DAHLONEGA, Ga. − Lauren Bessent (Jacksonville, Fla., Trinity Christian Academy) hit two doubles and Kelly Riddick (Hampton, Fla., Central Florida CC) tossed four shutout innings and allowed only one hit as No. 24 (NFCA Division II Top 25) Flagler College defeated Augusta State University in the opening round of the 2011 NCAA Division II Softball Southeast Regional at Hill Stadium Friday night.

Flagler improved to 41-16 and will play in the winners bracket game tomorrow (May 14) at 1:30 p.m. Augusta State fell to 34-19 and will play an elimination game tomorrow at 4 p.m. This was Flagler's first-ever NCAA Tournament game in softball since starting the program in 2009. Flagler has won three-of-the-five game played this season against Augusta State.

“I though the girls played great for our first time ever at regional,” said Flagler head softball coach Kristen Overton. “The girls have been committed to winning and have done whatever it takes with their work ethic.”

The Saints got on the board first when Alona Personius (Lake Stevens, Wash., Florida State College-Jacksonville) deposited a 3-1 pitch into the trees over the left-center field fence to give Flagler a 2-0 lead. Bessent led off the game with a double of the left field wall which just missed getting out of the park.

In the second inning, the Saints extended their lead to 3-0 when Robyn Draper (Brampton, Ontario, State College of Florida) scored from second on a base hit though the left side from Lauren Ely (Winter Springs, Fla., Winter Springs HS).

Flagler plated its fourth run in the bottom on the fourth. With runners on the corners and two outs, Ely took off from first base and got into a run down. When throw went to second base, Draper took off from third and just beat the throw to the plate.

That would be all Riddick (19-4) would need to break her own school record for wins in a season. She induced eight fly outs and had a no-hitter for 3.1 innings. Donna Munafo (Satellite Beach, Fla., Brevard CC) and Kalyn Loverich (St. Johns, Fla., Bartram Trail HS) mopped up the last three innings.

Bessent doubled to the left-center gap to knock in Draper for Flagler's fifth run and an error by the Augusta State first baseman allowed the sixth run to come around.

Kaitlin Harris had the Jaguars lone hit.

Emily Headrick (16-7) went the distance and allowed six hits, four earned runs and walked seven batters.

The Jaguars had opportunities to climb back into the game, but left a runner stranded at second base with one out twice and had a runner at third with one out, but couldn't core that run either.


Flagler 6, Augusta State 0 (May 13, 2011 at Dahlonega, GA)
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Augusta State....... 000 000 0 - 0 1 2 (34-19)
Flagler............. 210 102 X - 6 6 1 (41-16)
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Battery: Augusta State - Emily Headrick and Renae Kimbell. Flagler - Kelly Riddick; Donna Munafo(5); Kalyn Loverich(7) and Katelyn Guinsler.
Win-Kelly Riddick(19-4) Loss-Emily Headrick(16-7) T-2:15 A-384
2B FC – Lauren Bessent 2.
HR FC - Alona Personius (12).
Weather: Overcast, 69 degrees