Softball team splits with Broward, clinches spot in state tournament

The Eastern Florida State College softball team clinched a spot in the NJCAA District/FCSAA State Tournament on Saturday.

The Titans scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Broward College 5-4 in the first game of the doubleheader. The Titans lost the second game, 7-4 but Indian River State College swept Miami Dade, cinching the spot for the Titans who are two games ahead of Miami Dade with two games left. But Eastern Florida State College holds the tiebreaker, beating Miami Dade in four of the five meetings this season.

A couple of sophomores made sure they picked up a win in the first game on Sophomore Day at Titan Softball Complex. Down 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Titans loaded the bases and Hannah Crumblish tied the game with a sacrifice fly. Caitlyn Meyer then came up and hit a single that scored the winning run.

Crumblish also had a sacrifice fly in the second inning and Hilana Figueroa Rodriguez drove in a run in the fourth inning.

In Game 2, the Titans got on the board in the first inning with Emily Bartlett's RBI single. Broward scored twice in the third inning and four more times in the fourth inning to take a 6-1 lead.

The Titans scored three runs in the sixth inning but couldn't get any closer, falling 7-4.

Lexi Neiberline was perfect at the plate in both games, going 6-for-6 with six singles.

The Titans will host Palm Beach State College on Wednesday for a Southern Conference doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. The state tournament begins May 2 at Boombah Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood.