MELBOURNE, Fla. (March 6, 2024) - The St. Thomas University (STU) Softball team traveled back to Melbourne, Fla. for another double-header on Wednesday afternoon. The Bobcats went 2-0 at the Space Coast Games, defeating Grace College and Mount Marty.

Game #1: Grace College (IN)
The first inning saw St. Thomas taking an early lead, with Gabriella Gilbert's walk driving in the first run, followed by Bianca Palacios' two-RBI single to left field, propelling St. Thomas to a quick 3-0 advantage. The Bobcats continued to assert their dominance in the following innings, consistently adding to its lead. Natalie Kopicova's RBI single in the second inning extended the lead to 4-0, while subsequent runs in the third and fourth innings further widened the gap. A combination of patient batting and opportunistic base running allowed St. Thomas to steadily build its lead, showcasing the team's offensive depth and versatility. Bianca Palacios led the charge also had standout performances, tallying three hits and three RBIs, while Anna Toon and Kylie Casanova also made significant contributions with two RBIs each.

Melody Vizcaino led the charge with a solid outing, pitching three scoreless innings while allowing only two hits and striking out one batter. Johana Magaldi and Alyssa Luna also contributed to the team's pitching effort, effectively containing Grace's offense and limiting their scoring opportunities. Despite a brief resurgence from Grace (IN) in the fourth inning, where they managed to score three runs, St. Thomas maintained control of the game, ultimately sealing the 11-3 victory with a convincing display of skill and determination.

Game #2: Mount Marty
Despite a slow start from both teams, St. Thomas found their rhythm in the third inning, unleashing a flurry of runs to take a commanding lead. Mya Achenbach kicked off the scoring with a sacrifice fly, driving in Kaitlyn Martinez to put St. Thomas on the scoreboard. Following suit, Kopicova and Toon added to the tally with timely hits, extending St. Thomas' lead to 3-0. The Bobcats continued to apply pressure on Mount Marty's defense, adding two more insurance runs in the seventh inning to solidify their lead. Destiny Falquez capitalized on an error by Mount Marty's shortstop, allowing Kopicova to score, followed by Gilbert reaching base on an error by the third baseman, resulting in Falquez crossing home plate.

The offensive effort was complemented by a stellar pitching performance from Vizcaino, who stifled Mount Marty's lineup with five scoreless innings, allowing only five hits and striking out four batters.  Toon took over pitching duties for the final two innings, showcasing her prowess on the mound with a flawless performance, not conceding a single hit and striking out five batters. Defensively, St. Thomas displayed cohesion and precision, holding Mount Marty's offense in check and capitalizing on scoring opportunities. With this 5-0 victory, the Bobcats improve to an impressive 14-1 record.

-STU-