The Pensacola State softball team traveled to Clearwater, Florida this past weekend to start their season at the JUCO Kickoff Classic at Eddie C. Moore Park.
The Pirates won both games on Friday against St. Peterburg and State College of Florida. They were schedule for two games on Saturday, but were only able to play one because of weather. Continue reading below for individual game recaps.
St. Pete 0 PSC 3
The Pirates started their 2020 campaign with a 3-0 win over St. Peterburg College. Freshman pitcher Jorja Barrett threw a complete game shutout to pick up her first college win.
Pensacola got things started in the first inning when Ashley Valencia drew a bases loaded walk to plate the first run.
Pitching and defense continued to be the theme of the game until the fifth inning when with two outs Susanna Soldi doubled and then scored on a home run off the bat of Maddy Childs.
Childs paced the offense in the game as she went 2-for-3 with the home run and 2 RBI's. Barrett settled into the circle and struck out six while only allowing four hits in the game.
State College of FL-Manatee 0 PSC 8 (5 innings)
Pensacola's bats heated up in the second game of the day against Manatee as they pounded out 10 hits in the run rule victory.
Madison Myers started things off in the first by walking and promptly stealing second. Susanna Soldi singled to move Myers to third base which allowed Maddy Childs to drive her in for the first run of the game.
The scoring continued in the second when Monique Poitevin reached on an error and Ellie Hansen used a bunt single to get on base. Sajarie Jones then drove both runs in with a double to right-center. Myers plated Jones with a single and then picked up her second stolen base in the game before scoring on a groundout off the bat of Soldi.
The score held at 5-0 until the fourth inning when Myers again led off with a single and stole second before Soldi walked. After a double steal Myers scored on a passed ball and then Shaylan Whatman plated Soldi to extend the lead to 7-0.
Pensacola ended the game early in the fifth inning when Jones and Myers had back-to-back singles setting the table for Soldi to drive in the last run of the game.
Jorja Barrett again got the start and win as she went three innings giving up only one hit while striking out two. Raquel Latta took over pitching in the fourth and only gave up two hits as she closed out the game.
Myers was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with four stolen bases and three runs scored. Soldi and Jones were 2-for-3 on the day with two RBI's each.
College of Central FL 2 PSC 0
The Pirate offense went cold on Saturday and they dropped a 2-0 game to a strong Central Florida team.
Maddy Childs and Ashley Valencia picked up the only hits for PSC.
Jorja Barrett again started in the circle and struck out four in a complete game effort.
Pensacola will be back in action on Friday, February 7th when they host the PSC Invitational. Their first game will be at 10:00 am against Bryant & Stratton (VA) and they will close out the day at 4:45 pm against Coastal Alabama-North. They will play two games on Saturday against Bishop State and Coastal Alabama-North at the same times as Friday.