After dropping a close first game on Saturday the Pirate softball team fought their way to victory in game two of their doubleheader with Northwest Florida State. Continue reading below for individual game recaps.
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Pensacola State's effort to come back from down five runs in the third inning came up just short, as they fell 6-5 to NWF in the first game.
The Raiders struck with three runs in the top of the first courtesy of a bases loaded double. They were able to add another run in the second inning to give them a 4-0 lead that they extended to 5-0 with a homerun in the third.
The Pirate offense finally woke up in the fourth inning when Jaycie Brookshire reached on an error. Pinch runner Adriana Sierra eventually came around to score on a single from Mya Geros to make it 5-1.
The scoring continued in the fifth when Susanna Soldi reached on an error and Ellie Hansen followed with a bunt single to set the table for Maddy Childs to drive in a run with a single up the middle. An error allowed the Pirates to load the bases and Shaylan Whatman drove a ball to the fence that the centerfielder could not corral. This allowed Hansen to score, but the Raiders were able to escape the inning because of base running blunders.
In the top of the seventh and the score sitting at 5-3, the Raiders used a solo homerun to extend their lead to 6-3.
The Pirates rallied in the bottom of the seventh when Brookshire walked and Shaylan Whatman smashed a ball over the centerfield fence to make it 6-5. Unfortunately the rally fell just short when a ground out ended the game with two runners on base.
Shaylan Whatman was 2-for-4 with a homerun and three RBI's, Mya Geros was 3-for-4 and Ellie Hansen and Maddy Childs both collected two hits.
Jorja Barrett threw a complete game and struck out 10 while allowing only four hits.
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It took extra innings, but the Pirates pulled out a thrilling win in the second game.
Northwest had a one run lead in the second when the Pirates got on the board. Monique Poitevin led off with a single and Jaycie Brookshire drew a walk before Shaylan Whatman bunted both runners over. Kelsi Bargman then drew a walk to load the bases for Mya Geros who also worked the count and picked up an RBI with her walk. Pensacola added a second run courtesy of a single from Susanna Soldi to give them a 2-1 lead.
The Raiders pushed two runs across in the top of the third to regain the lead and the score remained 3-2 until the fourth inning.
Kelsi Bargman walked and Mya Geros used her wheels to reach first on a well placed bunt to set the table. With two outs Ellie Hansen drove a double to leftfield that scored one run to tie the game at three.
In the top of the fifth NWF plated two more runs to go ahead 5-3. The bottom of the inning saw the Pirates rally with two outs when Shaylan Whatman and Kelsi Bargman recorded back-to-back singles and both scored on a double to the right-center gap off the bat of Mya Geros to knot the game at five.
A 3-run homerun in the top of the sixth allowed NWF to take back the lead again.
Susanna Soldi started the bottom of the sixth with a single and she advanced to third when Ellie Hansen reached on an error. Maddy Childs then plated a run with a groundball to make it 8-6. Back to back errors from the Raiders allowed the Pirates to pull within one run and then they tied the game on an RBI groundout from Whatman.
There was nothing brewing in the seventh inning for either team and the game moved into extras. After the Pirate defense recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the top, Monique Poitevin drove a double to centerfield. Jaycie Brookshire followed with a single to right that Poitevin tried to score on, but she was cut down at the plate and the threat ended.
Jorja Barrett who entered the game in relief in the seventh inning again made quick work of the Raiders in the top of the ninth and after the Pirates were retired in order in the bottom the game moved to the international tiebreaker in the 10th inning.
A runner was placed on second base for the Raiders and she advanced to third on a groundball out to second. Northwest attempted a squeeze play, but the batter missed and the Pirates were able to tag out the runner to clear the bases and eventually the batter struck out to in the inning.
Mya Geros was placed on second base for the Pirates to start the bottom of the 10th. Sajarie Jones bunted her over and also reached safely to give Pensacola two runners on with no outs. Northwest intentionally walked Susanna Soldi to load the bases and got the lead runner out at home on a groundball. With the bases still juiced Maddy Childs hit a hard groundball to the third baseman who missplayed the short hop and allowed the winning run to cross the plate.
Susanna Soldi was 3-for-5 in the game with an RBI and walk while Mya Geros was 2-for-4 with three RBI's and a double. Monique Poitevin and Jaycie Brookshire both chipped in two hits in the game.
Avery Beauchaine got the start for the Pirates and threw 4.1 innings with three strikeouts before Heleena Reinhardt entered in relief for 1.2 innings. Jorja Barrett came on in the seventh inning and locked things down by only allowing one hit and striking out four. Barrett picked up her 10th win of the season.
The no. 14 ranked Pirates are 20-4 overall on the season and 6-2 in Panhandle play.