Softball team loses state tournament opener
The Eastern Florida State College softball team fell in the first game of the FCSAA State Tournament Thursday morning at Boombah Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood.
The Titans lost 11-3 in the first game and will play in an elimination game against the State College of Florida Manatee who lost to Chipola College 8-0 at 10 a.m. Friday at Boombah Soldiers Creek Park.
Down 1-0 the Titans scored three times in the third inning as Nikki Pennington tied it with an RBI single, Emily Bartlett then singled to give the Titans the lead. Madison Neuhaus stepped in and made it 3-1 with an RBI single.
The lead would not last as Tiffany Steczo hit a two-run home run to tie the game in the bottom of the third. It was her 25th home run which is a Central Florida record.
The Patriots went on to score four times in the fourth and three more in the fifth to pick up the win.
"We knew it was going to be a high-scoring game. They are one of the top hitting teams in the nation and they did that," Eastern Florida State College softball coach Jim Beitia said.
Leadoff hitter Hannah Crumblish went 2-for-3 in the game.
The Titans and Manatee have met four times this year with each team winning twice. Friday's game will be shown live online.