Reems Landreth
Florida Southern softball split their opening night series again Ursuline College on Feb. 4 before splitting a series against Flagler College on Feb 6.
Opening night saw mirrored box scores as the Mocs and the Arrows split the series with separate 5-2 games. Two nights later, Southern split a series against Flagler recording 2-6 and 3-2 storylines in back-to-back eight inning games.
Senior Makayla Deuberry opened the scoring up for the 2019 season in the bottom of the second with a RBI double to left center which allowed freshman Taylor Davis to bring in the opening run (1-0). Sophomore Samantha Prosser scored next (2-0) in the third off of a single by fellow sophomore Lindsey Wilson to left field. Deuberry brought in the third run of the night (3-0) for the Mocs with a sacrifice fly by senior Zierra Flodman.
Ursuline scored twice in the fifth with Michalski running in off a Buttolph double (3-1) and Buttolph stealing home later in the inning (3-2).
Freshman Maddi Conor rebounded off the Ursuline comeback with a run off a double by Davis (4-2). Davis brought in the final run of the game for the Mocs (5-2) behind a single to right center by Deuberry.
Game two started off slow, with the first run coming in the top of the fourth. The Arrows scored all five times in this inning starting with a two RBI triple to center field by Wilbur, which allowed Leshnack and Miller to score (0-2). Wilbur came home soon after Trent singled down the right field line (0-3) before Michalski reached first off an error by Dueberry, allowing Hughes to score (0-4). Michalski ended the scoring for Ursuline (0-5) after Buttolph tripled down the left field line.
The Mocs responded in the bottom of the fourth with Flodman scoring (1-5) off an single to center field by Conner. Junior Meghan Sexton brought in the final run of opening night for the Mocs by a single up the middle by senior Jessica Trana.
Two nights later, Southern was under the lights once again, facing off against Flagler College in the second series of the season
Game one began with the Mocs scoring twice in the bottom of the third inning. Freshman Celia Higgins scored off a single to right field (1-0) by Flodman before Sexton ran home off a single to center field (2-0) by Trana.
Those were the only runs by Southern in game one as Flagler’s Mooney and Forman tied the game in the top of the sixth off back-to-back singles by Kappos and Mangini (2-2).
After a scoreless seventh inning, Flagler lit up the scoreboard in the top of the eighth with four runners finding home (2-6). Florida Southern was unable to respond in the bottom of the eight with Wilson being the only Moc to find any base.
Game two saw a quick start for the Mocs squad, scoring twice in the first. Sexton scored off a Flodman double to left field (1-0) before Trana brought home Flodman with a double down the left field line (2-0).
Flagler responded in the third with a run by Mijuskivi (2-1) off a double by Evans and again in the seventh as Evans ran home (2-2) off a Morgan double.
Tied 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Connor reached home off a walk-off bunt by Deuberry to give Southern the win and to split the series.
Florida Southern plays again on Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. and Feb. 16 at 1 p.m. (DH) against Nova Southeastern to end their seven game home stand and to open Sunshine State Conference play. The Mocs will then travel to Tampa for a three game series on Feb. 22 and 23.
