ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Lynn softball team dropped the first game of their doubleheader, 3-2, in 11 innings, while scoring the winning run in the last inning to win the second game, 6-5. The split moves the Fighting Knights to 5-4 overall and 1-2 in the Sunshine State Conference.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1):
- Starting pitcher Haley Fardanesh scored the first run of the game and allowed just one run through her first five innings pitched
- Eckerd scored on a sac fly to give the home team a 2-1 lead after six innings
- The Fighting Knights tied the game in the top of the seventh after Adriana Otero singled, Taylor Scala pinch ran, stole second and later scored on a Monique Poitevin sac fly
- Fardanesh stayed in the game to pitch as the score remained 2-2 until the 11th inning
- Eckerd hit a leadoff double in the 11th inning and scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS (GAME 1):
- Fardanesh pitched 10.1 innings while allowing three runs on 162 pitches
- Otero went 2-for-5
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2):
- Eckerd scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead
- Shortstop Olivia Lovins tied the game with a sacrifice fly of her own in the top of the second inning
- Second baseman Cameron Buzzell's sac fly scored Otero to give Lynn an 2-1 lead
- Relief pitcher Josey Sumpter pitched a clean inning in the third inning, striking out two batters
- The Tritons scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth on an error and bases loaded walk to take a 3-2 lead
- The Fighting Knights countered with two runs the next inning thanks to a Sofia Jimenez double, Buzzell double and Poitevin single
- Lynn took a 5-3 lead, but Eckerd scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game heading into the seventh
- First baseman Eliza Gonzalez led off the seventh with a walk, Morgan Simpson pinch ran for Gonzalez, stole second and later scored on a Poitevin bunt to give Lynn a 6-5 advantage
- Relief pitcher Madison Prickett tossed a scoreless seventh to earn the save and split the doubleheader
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS (GAME 2):
- Sumpter allowed one earned run in 5.2 innings of relief while going 2-for-3 at the plate
- Galioto went 2-for-4 and stole two bases to bring her season steals total to seven
- Jimenez went 2-for-4 with a double and has reached base safely in nine of her last 15 plate appearances
UP NEXT:
Lynn is home for a noon doubleheader against Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, February 22