VIERA, Fla. (March 9, 2024) - Florida National University (15-12) ended day two of its second weekend at the 2024 Space Coast Games with a statement 6-2 win over the Sienna Heights University Saints (7-5), then falling short to the Mount Mercy University Mustangs (6-6). FNU recorded ten hits versus the Saints before posting three against the Mustangs.
Game one opposite the Saints saw both teams held scoreless through the first three innings. FNU's Sophia White and Alyssa Songer posted singles through the second and third frames before FNU finally broke through in the fourth. To lead off the inning, Emma Edwards doubled and finally scored on a two-base hit from White.
SHU leveled the score in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single from Avery Schellenberger, momentarily claiming things down the team out of Michigan. FNU took a 4-1 lead on its next turn at the batter's box, thanks to two RBI sacrifice flies credited to Ana "Gabi" De Oliveira Obando and Edwards. A costly error from the Saints' first baseman allowed Songer to run home to start the frame and SHU looked to dig itself out of a very precarious deficit in the bottom of the inning to no avail.
The sixth saw FNU tally two runs and four hits. RBI singles from Janessa Esquibel and Yleisha Perez highlighted the frame, while Tara McCaffery and lefty outfielder Sabrina Castelli each notched base hits before the Saints retired the side. SHU was held to one final score for the remainder of the contest off a single from shortstop Faith Breinager in the bottom of the sixth.
Game two saw FNU's bats cool significantly as Esquibel, McCaffery and Songer were the only Conquistadors to grab a hit in the shutout loss. MMU's Sam Lee and Calli Janik went home with two hits and an RBI apiece.
Pitcher Esquibel allowed five walks and two runs over four innings of work from the circle. Brylea Rusler finished the game with two runs allowed and four of FNU's five strikeouts in the loss.
Up Next: FNU exits Viera, Fla., with games versus IU South Bend and Hannibal-LaGrange.
