Softball team splits doubleheader at St. Johns River

The Eastern Florida State College softball team split a doubleheader on the road Tuesday.

The Titans, who are 8-12 on the season, lost the first game 11-7 and won the second game 11-1 at St. Johns River State College.

Mandy Hedetniemi-Taylor continued to dominate on the mound, allowing just one run on two hits over six innings and struck out eight for the win. Hedetniemi-Taylor has now allowed just the one run in the past five appearances.

In the top of the first inning, Makenzie Fore walked and Rachel Lamoureaux singled. That brought up Trinity Howard who hit a 2-0 pitch into left field, scoring Fore. Then with two outs, Faith Campos singled to centerfield, scoring both Lamoureaux and Howard.

St. Johns River cut the lead to 3-1 in the third inning but in the top of the fourth inning, Fore walked and stole second base. Fore would score on an error to make it 4-1.

Howard singled and Lamoureaux went to second base, bringing up Boo Swoyer who would walk to load the bases. Campos hit a ground ball to third who went home to force out Lamoureaux at home plate.

Gracie Snell stepped up to the plate and hammered a pitch for a double, emptying the bases and giving the Titans a 7-1 lead.

The Titans would add a run in the fifth and up 9-1 in the sixth inning, Fore crushed a pitch over the center field wall for a two-run home run.

Fore drove in four runs while Snell and Lamoureaux each had three hits in the win.

In Game 1, the two teams battled back and forth throughout the contest as St. Johns River State College scored twice in the first inning but the Titans would score four times in the top of the second inning highlighted by big hits from Fore, Howard and Sam Clark. Up 4-2, St. Johns River would score four times in the bottom of the second inning.

Down 6-2, the Titans would cut into the lead but St. Johns River prevailed.

Howard and Clark each had three hits while Fore went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.

Eastern Florida State College will be back at Titan Softball Complex Friday for a doubleheader against South Florida State College beginning at 1 p.m. Admission is free to games on the Melbourne campus and the game will be shown online at EFSC Titans YouTube page.