DeLand, Fla. –
Ava Braswell and
Caitlin Mullen teamed up for a shutout as Stetson opened the day with a 9-0 victory over FGCU in five innings, before falling 2-0 in the second game of the day.
Braswell earned the win in the first game, pitching four innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out four.
After a scoreless first inning, Braswell ran into trouble in the top of the second. After walking the leadoff batter, she allowed a base hit to right. However,
Gia Napoli's strong arm came through, throwing the runner out at second. With the bases loaded, Napoli's defense shined again, throwing out a runner at first to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.
That clutch defense translated into offense in the bottom of the second.
Nadia English singled to third, and
Dylan Anthony followed with a two-run homer to left-center, giving Stetson a 2-0 lead. Braswell then set the Eagles down in order in the third, and the Hatters continued their offensive attack in the bottom half of the inning.
Napoli walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Addison Foster walked as well, and
Kami Eppley singled to second, bringing Napoli home. A fielder's choice from
Amber Chumley allowed Foster to score, making it 4-0. English then singled to right, scoring another run, and Stetson ended the inning with a 5-0 lead.
The Hatters kept the pressure on in the fourth. Napoli singled to center, and Foster followed with a two-run homer to center field, making it 7-0. The scoring didn't stop there—Eppley walked, and Chumley hit a double to left-center.
Emily Santana grounded to short, and a throwing error allowed Chumley and Eppley to score, bringing the lead to 9-0.
Mullen pitched the fifth inning, allowing just one hit to seal the 9-0 win in five innings.
Caitlyn Kulczyski took the mound for Stetson in game two, suffering the loss after pitching five innings and allowing two runs on five hits. The Eagles struck first in the opening inning, but Kulczyski worked her way out of a bases-loaded jam, limiting Florida Gulf Coast to just one run. The Eagles added another run in the fourth to make it 2-0.
Hayley Arnold entered in the sixth and seventh innings, giving up one hit and one walk while striking out three. The Hatters had a chance in the bottom of the seventh, putting two runners on base with back-to-back singles from English and
Annabella McClerren. However, Stetson couldn't bring them home and fell short, 2-0.
The series will be decided on Sunday, March 23, at 1:00 pm.
