Softball team hits walkoff in Game 1, splits with College of Central Florida

The Eastern Florida State College softball team split a Citrus Conference doubleheader against No. 10 College of Central Florida on Saturday at Titan Softball Complex.

McKenzie Jewell hit a fly ball to center field for a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning, scoring Marisa Shoudt to give the Titans a 4-3 victory in the first game. The College of Central Florida came back to win Game 2, 4-1.

In Game 1, the College of Central Florida scored twice in the first inning and another in the third to take a 3-0 lead. But the Titans got on the board in the fourth inning as Madison Ford doubled with two outs and scored on Maci Vonderstrasse's single to cut the lead to 3-1.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Kyla Leppin doubled and would score on Jenna Borkey's single to cut the lead to 3-2.

Hannah Strickland continued her strong outing, holding the Patriots scoreless in the seventh. Then once again with two outs in the inning, the Titans rallied. Livie Davis doubled and Brooke Theisen hit a 1-2 pitch to right field for a double, scoring Davis and tying the game.

It looked like the Titans would win it in the eighth as they had the bases loaded but the Patriots would get the double play to force a ninth inning.

Strickland would get the Patriots out 1-2-3 in the ninth, setting up the Titans in the bottom of the ninth.

Marisa Shoudt singled, then Davis reached on an error. Theisen hit a sacrifice bunt setting up second and third with one out. Jewell hit the first pitch she saw to center, scoring Shoudt for the win. Leppin and Theisen each had two hits in the game.

Strickland threw all nine innings, allowing one earned run and struck out seven. The seven strikeouts were tied for the most for Strickland.

In Game 2, the College of Central Florida scored in the first inning, then added two in the third and another in the fourth inning to post the 4-1 win.

Kyla Leppin singled to score Davis in the third for the only Titans run.

The Titans, who are now 13-13 in the conference and 29-15 overall, will be back in action on Sunday, traveling to Santa Fe College for a conference doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.