BRADENTON, Fla. - The Mighty Banyan's softball team dropped both games against Florida Memorial Tuesday afternoon.
Following two losses on opening day, the Banyan's looked to regroup against a tough Florida Memorial squad.
Florida Memorial came out the gate firing on all cylinders. Following two singles and an early Banyan error, an early triple off the wall gave Florida Memorial there first lead. The Lions drove in two more runs in the inning, scoring on a sacrifice fly and a single into right field.
New College of Florida struggled for a large majority of the afternoon.
Ke'Asia Waters led off for the Banyan's, singling to the third basemen before being thrown out while attempting to steal second base.
Tiffany Lepic and
Kira McDonough reached on a walk and a single, setting up NCF with runners in scoring position. Sadly, NCF could not capitalize on the situation, as
Camryn Lee grounded out to end the inning.
Florida Memorial put up another four runs in the second frame thanks to a monstrous two run shot to deep center field. With all the momentum going the Lion's way, it was hard for NCF to get in a rhythm.
The Banyans found their stride in the bottom frame of the fifth inning. Jalyssa Nedesma got the inning going with a single up the middle.
Ke'Asia Waters connected on a change up, driving the ball over the head of the third basemen and into left field. With the lead runner now on third,
Abigail Gregory placed a perfect bunt towards the Lion's pitcher, scoring Nedesma and beating out the throw to first.
Camryn Lee notched a two run single to continue the momentum.
Madison Garcia and
Carianne Maitland drove in the final runs of the game for NCF, giving them 6 runs in the period in a 7-15 loss.
Game two began in a very similar fashion. Florida Memorial had another huge first inning, taking a 10-0 lead heading into the bottom of the first. The Banyan's. however, got going much earlier in game two.
Ke'Asia Waters got on base after being hit by a pitch to lead off for NCF. After a Waters stolen base and a
Tiffany Lepic walk, Banyan pitcher Maddie Dutton took a 1-2 pitch deep over the center field wall. Dutton's home run was the first outside of the park home run in program history, and helped the Banyan's tally four runs in the first inning.
The Banyans had another great inning in the bottom of the second.
Cheyenne Waddel singled to get the Banyan's going. Waddel reached home base for the first run of the inning thanks to a
Tiffany Lepic single up the center gap.
Kira McDonough singled in two more runs, bringing the Lion's lead down to 11. The Banyans scored two more runs in the inning thanks to a bases loaded walk and a missed block by the Lion's catcher.
The Banyan's run would be cut short, with the game concluding after four innings due to darkness.
Madilyn Dutton went 3-3 with a home run, driving in 3 RBI and walking twice.
Jalyssa Nedesma went 4-5 and scored 3 runs.
The Banyan's are back in action on Wednesday, Feb 7 at home against Heartland Community College.
