Softball team defeats SCF-Manatee at JUCO Kickoff

The Eastern Florida State College softball team jumped out to a fast start and never looked back, defeating the State College of Florida-Manatee 9-1 Friday at the JUCO Kickoff in Clearwater.

The Titans led off the game with a Faith Campos walk, then Ava Bassani singled to left field bring up Makenzie Fore. The sophomore took a 1-2 pitch and drilled it to left field for a double, scoring both Campos and Bassani. Up 2-0 the Titans were not done as Fore would score on Gracie Snell's single to make it 3-0. Rachel Lamoureaux would score on a passed ball to make it 4-0 in the first inning.

Campos would lead off the second inning with a double and score on Bassani's single for a 5-0 lead.

That was more than enough for Mandy Hedetniemi-Taylor who picked up her first win of the season, tossing six strong innings allowing just one run and struck out eight.

Up 5-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Titans ended the game as Trinity Howard, Lamoureaux and Snell all singled to load the bases with no outs. Courtney Stout would earn a walk to score Howard. Then Marisa Shoudt singled to right field, scoring Lamoureaux and Snell for the 9-1 win.

Campos, Bassani, Howard and Snell each had two hits in the game, while Fore and Shoudt each drove in two.

Eastern Florida State College, 2-0 on the season, will be back at the JUCO Kickoff Saturday for two more games. The Titans will play St. Petersburg College at 1:30 p.m. and then wrap up the Classic against Lake Sumter State College at 4 p.m.