Wednesday April 7, 2021
Softball: Niceville, FL
The Lady Bears Softball team continued their spring break road trip today with a pair of games versus the Northwest Florida State College Raiders. In both games the Raiders used two big innings to defeat the Lady Bears. The Raiders win game one 13 to 5 and game two 11 to 3.
Game One:
The Lady Bears had their bats going early as they would score three runs, in the first inning, to take an early lead. Brooke Romano would start things off when she would double to centerfield scoring Brooke Duhon who reached on an error. Montana Smith would be up next and she would belt a two-run homer to centerfield. Northwest Florida would respond with a run, in the bottom of the first, but they still trailed 3 to 1. The Lady Bears bats would remain hot, in the second inning, as freshman pitcher Kelsie Bell Etheridge would lead off with a solo homer to centerfield. This is the Zwolle native first collegiate homerun. After two, the Lady Bears led 4 to 1. In the third inning, the Raiders would score 3 runs to tie the game at four a piece. The Raiders would stay hot and score nine more runs, in the fourth inning, to take a commanding 13 to 4 lead. The Lady Bears would fight till the end but they could only mustard one run when Claire Blanchard would drive home Brooke Duhon who singled. The Lady Bears would fall 13 to 5, in a game one five inning run rule.
Lauren Parson earned the victory for the Raiders. She pitched three and two-thirds innings allowing 1 run on 3 hits while striking out 5. Kelsie Bell Etheridge took the loss for the Lady Bears. KB pitched four innings allowing 13 runs on 11 hits.
Northwest Florida outhit Baton Rouge 11 to 8. Baton Rouge was credited with 5 errors while Northwest at 2 in the ball game.
Lady Bears Game 1 Highlights:
Kaitley Fisher went 1 for 3.
Brooke Duhon went 1 for 3 with 2 Runs.
Brooke Romano went 1 for 3 with 1 Run and 1 RBI.
Kelsie Bell Etheridge went 1 for 3 with 1 Run, 1 RBI and her first collegiate home run.
Kylie Lormand went 2 for 2.
Game Two:
Again, the Raiders would use a huge inning to defeat the Lady Bears 11 to 3, in five innings.
Northwest Florida would get on the board first with a run, in the second inning, to take a 1-0 lead. Baton Rouge would tie the game with a run, in the third, when Brooke Romano would single scoring Brooke Duhon, who reached on a double. In the bottom of the third, the Raiders would retake the lead with a run; 2-1. The Raiders would extend their lead with two runs, in the fourth inning: 4-1. The Lady Bears would scratch closer, in the fifth inning, when Frashaylon Angelle would hit a two-run homer. In the bottom of the fifth, the Raiders would score 7 runs. They would walk off with the run rule victory off a grand slam by A Sulte; 11 to 3.
Ivey Hill earned the victory for the Raiders. She pitched five innings allowing 3 runs on 8 hits while striking out 2. Leanne Lain took the loss for the Lady Bears. Leanne pitched four and a third innings allowing 8 runs on 7 hits while striking out 1. Saylor Young pitched in relief for the Lady Bears.
Both teams tallied 8 hits in the ball game and the Lady Bears were credited with 1 error.
Lady Bears Game 2 Highlights:
Brooke Duhon went 1 for 3 with 1 run.
Brooke Romano went 2 for 2 with 1 run, 1 BB and 1 RBI.
Montana Smith went 2 for 3.
Frashaylon Angelle went 1 for 3 with 1 Run, 2 RBIs and 1 HR
Claire Blanchard went 1 for 3.
Kylie Lormand went 1 for 2.
With the victories Northwest Florida State College improves to 31-13 while Baton Rouge falls to 6-19 on the season.
Up next for the Lady Bears will be home games on Tuesday April 13 versus Coastal Alabama North Eagles. First game starts at 1 pm at Traction.