MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Flagler College softball team wrapped up the FIT/Marriott Kickoff Classic by splitting two more games on Sunday at Dr. Nancy Bottge Field. The Saints lost a slugfest against No. 14 (NFCA Division II) Florida Tech, 12-7, and then used a four-run first inning to defeat Mars Hill University, 4-2.
Flagler leaves Melbourne with a 2-2 record.
In the first game, the home-standing Panthers erupted for five runs in the first inning and then held off the Saints 12-7. They scored at least one run in every inning except the third.
Nicole Shinsky, the third batter of the game for Florida Tech, socked a two-run double to right field and then scored when Krista Patterson singled down the left field line to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead. Florida Tech sent nine batters to the plate in the inning.
The Saints got two runs back in the second thanks to
Whitney Woodard's two-run double to left field.
Malloree Escue hit a solo home run in the third and Woodard had an RBI-single in the fourth to pull the Saints back to within two runs (6-4) in the middle of the fourth.
The Panthers answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, two of which were unearned. Emily York hit a two-run double to right-center.
Hannah Hudson hit a solo home run in the seventh for Flagler.
Panther pitcher Rachel Pence (3-0) scattered 12 hits, allowed four earned runs and struck out 10 batters.
Shinsky went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs batted in and she scored two runs. Patterson singled, doubled, drove in three runs and scored two more. York also had a single and a double and she collected three RBI.
Haleigh Corbally (0-2) took the loss in the circle for the Saints. She faced five batters in the first inning and could not retire any of them as she allowed four hits and walked a batter.
Tinsley Smith came to pitch 4.2 innings in relief. She scattered five hits and allowed four earned runs.
Erin Anderson finished the game.
Woodard went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Escue went 2-for-4 with the home run and
Keeley Murray collected two singles and scored a run.
In game two, Flagler was the aggressor as it scored all the runs it would need, four, in the first inning.
Woodard got things started with a lead-off single and then stole second base.
Tori Volz hit a triple to center to score Woodard and give the Saints a 1-0 lead. Escue hit a sacrifice fly to right to plate Volz.
Hannah Hudson and Murray sandwiched walks around a single by
Mackenzie Conley to lead the bases with one out.
Maddy Murphy lifted a fly ball to center to score Hudson and
Kayla Fuller singled home Conley.
The Saints could only muster three more base runners the rest of the game against Mars Hill reliever Sydney Elkin.
The Lions got solo home runs from pinch hitter Kaleigh Jonas and Ragan Broome in the fifth inning.
Callie Reed kept the Lions bats in check as she tossed 4.2 innings, scattered four hits and allowed two runs. After the first two batters of the game reached base, she retired the next nine in a row.
Tinsley Smith came on to earn the save in 2.1 innings of work. She did not allow a hit or a run as she retired all eight batters she faced.
Woodard collected two singles and scored a run for the Saints.
Lacee Hunsucker (0-1) took the loss for Mars Hill. She tossed one-third of an inning, allowed three hits and four runs. Elkin tossed the final 5.2 innings and kept the Saints off the board as she allowed three hits and fanned five.
Flagler will visit No. 6 Valdosta State University on Tuesday for a 4 p.m. doubleheader.
