LAKELAND, Fla. — The Flagler College softball team traveled for its first road trip and left Florida Southern College with a split, winning the first 5-4 before being edged in the second, 2-1, at Chris Bellotto Field Wednesday night.
In the first game,
Madelyn Childs doubled in
Valerie Beltre, who hit a lead-off single, in the first inning to take the early lead. The Saints (2-3) didn't have the start they would have wanted on defense, allowing four runs with an error, but Flagler didn't let it get it down versus pitcher Mel Rogers (L, 1-1) in the circle.
Madelyn Wise (W, 2-1) battled back from the tough opening inning as she shutout the Mocs (4-1) the rest of the way. Meanwhile, her offense stepped up with a four-run fourth inning that began with
Olivia Parker's RBI-single followed by a three-run
Paige Maseda double.
Maseda, the two-spot hitter, came up huge with the two-out hit that cleared the bases, scoring Beltre, Parker and
Mercedes Salinas, and propelled Flagler to the victory. In all, the Saints had five runs on 10 hits as Beltre led the team with two hits as eight (Childs,
Kyleigh Taylor,
Mackenzie Smith,
Alyssa Velez, Salinas, Parker and
Lucy Giebeig) recorded a hit.
In the second game, the Saints took the lead early on an Mocs' error, but unlike the first game, Flagler was unable to come to complete the comeback. Freshman
Rachel Hester struck out three and allowed a pair of runs on nine hits, while pinch hitter
Trinity Fry, Maseda and Childs each had a combined three hits and Beltre drew a walk.
The Saints will look to build on the spit with the Mocs this weekend when they host a five-team tournament, including themselves, beginning Friday with Lenoir-Rhyne University at 1 p.m.
Be the first to know what's going on with the Saints -- Follow @FlaglerSports on Twitter, follow FlaglerSports on Instagram, become a fan of Flagler College Athletics on Facebook and subscribe to the Flagler College Athletics e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and to interact with Flagler Athletics.
