Softball team falls short of postseason berth

The Eastern Florida State College softball team fell one win shy of making the postseason on Friday at Titan Softball Complex.

The Titans opened the day against Miami Dade College in a battle of second-place teams. Miami Dade got things going early with three runs in the first inning as a couple of bunt singles got the Sharks going. In the second inning Victoria Vasquez reached on an error and scored on Courtney Stout's triple to cut the lead to 3-1.

The lead reached 7-1 after four innings but the Titans would make it interesting. Kayla Domon singled to start the fifth inning, stole second and later scored to cut lead to five.

In the seventh inning the Titans got things rolling fast as Brooke Theisen and Makenzie Fore walked, Haley Keeting singled to drive in the first run. Molly Reid singled, scoring Fore to cut the lead to 7-4. Vasquez would walk with two outs to load the bases, bringing up Courtney Stout. Stout would rip a single, scoring two to cut the lead to 7-6.

But that was as close as the Titans would get. Domon had three hits and stole two bases in the game while Stout drove in three runs.

The loss pulled Miami Dade into a tie for second place. The Sharks then played South Florida State College and the Panthers picked up the 7-4 win to put Miami Dade behind the Titans once again.

Then the Titans took the field against South Florida State College and once again fell behind as the Panthers scored a run in the top of the first inning.

But Titans starting pitcher Mandy Hedetniemi-Taylor shut out the Panthers for the next six innings.

Down 1-0, the offense got things going in the sixth inning as Alyssa Tossi tied the game with a base hit.

Tied 1-1 the game would go to extra innings with South Florida State getting a clutch hit in the eighth inning, scoring two runs.

Down 3-1 in the bottom of the eighth, once again Tossi came up with runners on base and delivered with a single that scored Brooke Theisen.

But the Titans could not tie the game, falling 3-2.

That put Miami Dade in position to win and advance. They played Indian River State College and took a commanding lead but the Pioneers came back late but it was not enough as the Sharks won their third game on Friday and punched their ticket into the postseason.

Eastern Florida State College wrapped up the season 26-24 overall which is more wins than last season. After the tournament the program recognized its 10 sophomores who played for the Titans for the final time on Friday.