Softball team earns split with No. 1 College of Central Florida

Lauren Lightbody singled, scoring Kayla Domon with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn a split with the College of Central Florida Wednesday night at Titan Softball Complex.

The Eastern Florida State College softball team lost the first game 10-0, but came back to beat the No. 1 team in the latest NJCAA Division I poll 12-11.

After managing just five hits in the first game, the Titans scored 12 runs on 11 hits in the second game. It didn't look like the Titans would be able to slow down the College of Central Florida as the Patriots scored four times in the top of the first inning.

But Madison Neuhaus drove in two runs in the bottom of the first inning to cut the lead in half. The Patriots would take a 6-3 lead into the third inning but the Titans came out swinging as Lightbody tied the game with a two-run double and the Titans would score two more in the inning to take an 8-6 lead. The Titans would continue to lead until the top of the seventh inning when the Patriots scored three times to tie the game.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Kayla Domon walked, advanced to second on a passed ball and then another passed ball put her on third. Lightbody then hit a 2-2 pitch to right-center field to score Domon with the winning run and the celebration began. 

Lightbody finished with three hits and drove in three runs in the second game. Alyssa Agrippa hit a solo home run and Madison Neuhaus had two hits and drove in four runs in the win.

"I am super proud of our team. Great team effort," Eastern Florida State College softball coach Jim Beitia said. "Central Florida deserves to be number one. They are by far the best team we have played this season. I think we are starting to come together as a team and have an idea of what it takes  mentally and physically to win at a high level."

The Titans will host Daytona State College on Thursday evening. The doubleheader will begin at 4 p.m. at Titan Softball Complex. The Titans are 2-0 against Daytona State College this season and have won the past four meetings.