Softball team sweeps home opener in record-setting fashion

The Eastern Florida State College softball team had a record-setting home opener on Tuesday against the Florida State College at Jacksonville.

The Titans, who are 5-1 on the season, won 11-3 in six innings in Game 1 and then scored 13 times in the second inning of Game 2 to go on and win 25-8. The 13 runs in an inning ties a program record while the 25 runs is the most for the Titans.

In Game 1, the Florida State College at Jacksonville scored three times in the top of the first inning but starting pitcher Avery Velazquez settled down to shut out FSC-Jacksonville for the next five innings.

In the second inning the Titans got things started with an infield single by Ashely Corazzini. After two outs, Martha Jones stepped to the plate and hit an 0-1 pitch down the right field line and past the right fielder. Jones sped around the bases, recorded an inside the park home run to make it 3-2 Manta Rays.

The Titans sent 12 runners to the plate in the third inning, scoring six times to take an 8-3 lead. Back to back to back doubles by Jones, Kayla Fanning and Jessica Camacho led to two more runs.

Corazzini once again led off with an infield single in the sixth and scored on a Jones hit to end the game.

Corazzini finished with three hits and Velazquez picked up the win, striking out four.

Game 2 was all Eastern Florida State College as the first five players reached and four of them scored as the Titans led 4-0 after the first inning.

But it was the second inning that put this year's team in the record books. The Titans sent 18 hitters to the plate as 13 runs would score. Isabel Otero, Aricelis Jimenez, Corazzini, Emma George, Ashley Greiser and Camacho all scored twice in the inning. The Titans had five hits, walked five times and were hit by four pitches in the inning.

Leading 17-6, the Titans went back on the attack in the fourth inning. Eastern Florida State College scored eight more runs as 12 players came up to bat.

Otero finished with four hits and scored four times while Greiser went 3-for-3. Luci Walters picked up the win.

Eastern Florida State College will host St. Johns River next Tuesday afternoon for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. Games at Titan Softball Complex is free and you can watch the doubleheader live online at the EFSC Titans YouTube page.