MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. | Florida Memorial split a doubleheader against Keiser, falling 6-2 in game one before storming back for a thrilling 8-7 victory in extra innings in walk-off fashion, clinching the series over the Seahawks at Walt Frazier Park at Carol City.
"I believe in my team," said second year head coach CJ Combs. "We never gave up despite trailing in game three, and my girls came up huge when we needed them the most. We never lost faith in our ability, and that's why we won."
Game 1
Keiser 6 - Florida Memorial 2
The Lions took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when second baseman
Bianca Campos produced a sacrifice bunt-RBI that brought home center fielder
Ciara Justice. The Seahawks responded with two runs in the top of the third inning before FMU tied the game in the bottom stanza when third baseman
Mariana Gongora generated an RBI-single to center field that allowed short stop
Heidy Olivo to touch home plate.
With the score tied at 2-2, Keiser regained a one-run lead in the top of the fifth inning before pouring in three runs in the top of the seventh, closing the door on any comeback attempt from the Lions.
Junior transfer
Emma Silva (11-3) was credited with the loss, allowing four earned runs as she pitched a complete game.
Game 2
Florida Memorial 8 - Keiser 7 (8 innings)
FMU fell behind early as Keiser poured in three runs in the top of the first inning before the Lions responded with runs in the first and second inning as Justice generated a sacrifice fly-RBI, scoring catcher
Ciera Taylor. Right fielder Ashana Francis then produced a sacrifice ground-out-RBI, scoring pinch runner
Ariyuana DuPont, cutting the deficit to one run.
The Seahawks scored three runs in the next two innings to take a 5-2 lead before FMU responded with runs in a fourth and fifth inning as Taylor hit an RBI-single to left center that brought home
Kylie Enrique. In the fifth, Enrique generated an RBI-double to left field that scored speedster
Bryanna Curry, bringing the score to 6-4 in favor of Keiser.
In the sixth inning,
Heidy Olivo hit a solo home run to left field that gave life to the Lions cutting the deficit to one run. Later in the inning, Enrique continued her hot streak with another RBI as Justice scored the game-tying run, eventually forcing extra innings.
The Seahawks took a 7-6 lead in the top of the eighth inning before FMU's final chance. In the bottom of the eighth, left fielder
Kayla Jade Morales came through in the most clutch moment of the game, producing a two-RBI walk-off single that scored both Gongora and Justice for the dramatic conference victory.
Gabriela Pinto was credited with the victory for FMU after coming in relief of
Kaylie Araujo, who pitched a total of 2.1 innings against her former team. Pinto logged in 5.2 innings of work, striking out one batter while allowing just one earned run.
The Lions return to action on Wednesday, April 17 as they travel to Lauderhill, Fla. to face Fort Lauderdale in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 12 noon.
