Softball team splits with No. 3 Florida Southwestern

The Eastern Florida State College softball team battled No. 3 Florida Southwestern State College to a split in the doubleheader on Saturday.

The Titans, who are receiving votes in the national poll, lost the first game 5-4 before Kyla Leppin hit a walk-off, three-run home run to defeat the Bucs 7-6.

In Game 1, Maci Vanderstrosse emptied the bases in the fourth inning with a triple, scoring Leppin, McKenzie Jewell and Jenna Borkey.

Up 3-0, Florida Southwestern would score five times in the top of the fifth, highlighted by a Virginia Mambelli two-run home run.

The Titans would cut the lead to 5-4 when Leppin would double and score on an error.  Eastern Florida State College would threaten in the bottom of the seventh, but could not tie the game.

In Game 2, the Titans took a lead as Jenna Borkey reached on a hit by pitch, stole second and scored on Samantha Clark's double.

Up 1-0 the Bucs would score twice in the fifth inning as Skylar Brennan tied the game with an RBI single and the Mambelli hit an RBI double and Faith Campos would throw a strike to third baseman Brooke Theisen to get the final out.

Down 2-1, McKenzie Jewell gave the Titans the lead once again with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth. Leading 4-2, Florida Southwestern scored twice in the sixth to tie the game.

The Bucs scored twice in the top of the eighth inning as Mambelli once again came up big, hitting the two-run single.

Theisen would lead off with a double, then Jewell singled to bring up Leppin.

It was Leppin's first home run as a Titan and capped off a big day for the freshman. Hannah Strickland picked up the win in relief.

Eastern Florida State College will travel to Seminole State College on Tuesday for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. and then will host the State College of Florida, Manatee on Thursday for a doubleheader at 2 p.m.

The Titans are 10-10 in the Citrus Conference and 25-11 overall.