ST. AUGUSTINE — The Flagler College softball team took an underwhelming 9-0 loss versus third-ranked Valdosta State University and capped the twinbill with a gritty game two, 4-2, win at Flagler Field Wednesday.
After recording just one hit in the six-inning first game against ace Samantha Richards (W, 9-1) , the Saints (10-8) ripped across seven hits as
Courtney Robinson led with pack with two. The second baseman was one of two Saints — with the other being
Valerie Beltre — who scored on
Paige Maseda's eventual game-winning, two-RBI double in the second inning against Morgan Hill (L, 1-1) to put Flagler up for good.
The Saints took the lead in the first inning — via
Kyleigh Taylor reaching on an error to plate Maseda — and never looked back. The Blazers (13-4) knotted the score in the second — due to an error that kept the inning alive — but it, and a solo home run in the third, wasn't enough to stump the Saints.
Taylor Scott (W, 3-0) allowed one earned run on five hits and
Rachel Hester (S, 2) shutdown Valdosta State the rest of the way. The freshman became the first Saint with a pair of saves since 2017 as she struck out two through two innings and allowed just three hits.
Alyssa Velez put the icing on the cake with a solo homer in the fifth inning — versus reliever Mia DeAngelis — and the senior-freshman duo closed the door to put a positive spin on a disappointing start to Wednesday's doubleheader.
The Saints will be back in action next Wednesday wtih a doubleheader with Barry University, beginning at 4 p.m., to prep for their conference-opening doubleheader against Columbus State University Saturday, March 12 at Flagler Field.
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.
