WESTON, Fla. (April 25, 2024) - Florida National's softball team (21-20) ended the regular season on a high note, splitting a competitive doubleheader against the NCCAA's University of Fort Lauderdale Eagles Thursday (23-22). The Conquistadors claimed a 2-1 win in game one before missing the mark with a 12-5 loss in game two. FNU ended the season series versus UFTL on top, 3-1.
In game one, both teams were in a scoreless deadlock before the Eagles took a 1-0 advantage in the third. Pitcher Alexia Geary launched a hit to center field, scoring Alissia Vega and advancing leadoff hitter Alyssa Dragovich to second. UFTL held on to this lead until the bottom of the fifth, when FNU's Thanysha Gil nabbed the most important at-bat of the contest.
Gil's pinch-hit double to left scored base runners Ana "Gabi" De Oliveira Obando and Yleisha Perez. This stellar play ended up sealing the game for FNU, as the Conquistadors allowed one Eagle hit the rest of the way. UFTL posted six hits while the Conquistadors recorded seven.
In game two of this doubleheader, UFTL used an impressive inning in the third to secure the lopsided victory. The first frame saw UFTL take a 2-0 lead on a wild pitch that scored Dragovich, followed closely behind by an RBI single to run in Katie Adkins. FNU answered this challenge on a textbook two-RBI homer from second baseman Perez that exited the fence from center field in the bottom of the first.
UFTL blew the game open in the third, tallying seven runs on just three hits. The Eagles impressive campaign included a three RBI home run by Cameron Rollison. Pitcher Janessa Esquibel faced some early difficulty from the circle and freshman Peyton Knight took over the pitching duties to close out the frame.
FNU recorded three more runs in the bottom of the third thanks to a two-score base hit from Obando and an RBI single from Gil. UFTL closed out the contest with three runs and three hits in the next four innings.
Up Next: The Conquistadors head to Lawrenceville, Ga., for a 2:30 p.m. game against Crowley's Ridge College to open the Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) Tournament May 2.
