MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (February 24, 2021) - St. Thomas University (STU) Softball (1-1) began the 2021 campaign with a doubleheader against Florida National University (2-7). The Bobcats split the season-opening doubleheader, dropping game one, 7-5, and taking game two, 4-2.

Game One
Bobcat Starters

• Sophia Negron - Right Field
• Destiny Pacetti - Left Field
• Taylor Pottorff - Second Base
• Daniela Bautista - Shortstop
• Kaitlin Spalding - Designated Player
• Gabriella Gilbert - Catcher
• Nicole Hauck - Center Field
• Larissa Smits - First Base
• Sarah Deschenne - Third Base
• Erica Winter - Starting Pitcher

Game Notes

• St. Thomas opened the 2021 season with a run in the bottom of the first inning, as Spalding drove in Pacetti with an RBI single.
• Florida National responded with three runs in the top of the second inning, taking a 3-1 lead.
• FNU extended its lead with a sacrifice fly in the top of the third inning over St. Thomas.
• Pottorff drove a double off the center-field fence with one out in the bottom of the third inning, but STU was unable to cut into the deficit.
• Winter settled in, holding the Conquistadors scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings.
• The Bobcats escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the sixth inning as Kylie Casanova picked off the runner at third base, ending the inning and keeping the score at 4-1.
• Smits lined a bases-clearing triple to right field, just out of reach from the diving right fielder and tying the game 4-4.
• Negron reclaimed the Bobcats lead, 5-4, with an RBI groundout to third base and scoring Smits.
• Hauck tracked down a deep line drive to the fence and made an over-the-shoulder grab for the second out in the seventh inning. 
• Florida National tied the game 5-5 following a Bobcat error with two outs in the frame.
• FNU took advantage of a second consecutive STU error, taking a 6-5 lead.
• FNU rallied, scoring three runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 7-5 lead over St. Thomas.
• STU went down in order in the seventh inning, dropping the first game of the doubleheader and the season, 7-5.

Game Two

Bobcat Starters

• Spalding - Right Field
• Eliza Artiles - Third Base
• Pottorff - Second Base
• Bautista - Shortstop
• Talia Brown - Left Field
• Alyssa Luna - Designated Player
• Rachel Samaniego - First Base
• Lishanty Guillermo - Catcher
• Juliana Uribe - Center Field
• Abbigail Smith - Pitcher

Game Notes

• Artiles broke a scoreless tie with a base hit through the left-side of the infield, scoring Spalding in the bottom of the third inning.
• Smith limited the Conquistadors' offense through four innings, scattering five hits.
• Brown drove in Oaskarley Ochoa, extending the STU lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning. 
• Guillermo padded the St. Thomas advantage with a two-run double to left field, driving in Hauck and Brown, as the score went to 4-0.
• Smith escaped a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the top of the sixth inning with a groundout to shortstop. 
• Smith returned to the mound for the complete game.
• FNU scored two runs on a double, putting the score at 4-2.
• Smith recorded the win with a foul pop-out to Artiles, as STU won their first game of the season. 

MVBobcats
Lishanty Guillermo: 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI
Abbigail Smith: 7 IP, (1-0), CG

Upcoming

STU returns to Colonel Jacquelin Kelly Field on Saturday, February 26, taking on Edward Waters College with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.

-STU-