Softball hosted Howard Community College Tuesday, February 27 for a doubleheader at JP Riddle Complex. The Trojans played two 5-inning games scoring 29 runs on the day.
FTCC vs. Howard Community College- Game one (15-6, win 5-innings)
The Trojans started out strong in the bottom of the first inning scoring two runs on three hits. Isabella Finelli (Pembroke, NC) led off the inning with a double to center field followed by a Trinity Gaither (Bunnlevel, NC) single to put runners on the corners. With one out, Nyla Mitchell (Lumberton, NC) hits a double to the center field fence to plate two runs for the Trojans.
Faith Martin (Gatesville, NC) leads off the bottom of the second with a walk. With two outs, Gaither reaches on an error to bring up Morgan Brady (Fayetteville, NC). Brady singles to right field for an RBI to put the Trojans up 3-1. Her single was followed by two doubles from Mitchell and Tamarah Lowery (Raeford, NC) to give the Trojans three more runs.
The Trojans do not stop there as they score six runs in the third inning on four hits. Madeline Burns (Sanford, NC) leads off the inning with a walk and Finelli hits a line drive double to left field to put two in scoring position. Gaither lays down a perfect bunt to load the bases for the Trojans. Brady gets a sacrifice fly to score Burns on third base followed by another double from Mitchell. Lowery gets herself a single, followed by two Dragon errors and another sacrifice fly to bring the score to 12-3.
Trojans score three more in the fourth with a couple walks, errors and a triple from Mitchell.
Lowery throws all five innings for the Trojans allowing four hits and three earned runs with five strikeouts.
The Trojans offense was led by Mitchell who went 4-4 with three doubles and a triple.
FTCC vs. Howard Community College- Game two (14-3, win 5-innings)
The Trojans start off with the same energy in game two. Leading off the bottom of the first, Finelli and Gaither have back to back singles. Brady draws the walk after a few wild pitches allows the base runners to score during her at bat. Mitchell gets her fifth hit of the day with a single to center field followed by a Lowery double and an RBI ground ball from Ava Basolt (Sanford, NC) to score two more runs.
Finelli leads off the bottom of the second with her third double of the day and another Gaither single puts runners on the corners. Brady hits a double to left field to earn two more RBIs.
The Trojans score four more runs in the third to lead the Dragons 10-1. Burns hits a one out double, Gaither singles to right field. Brady draws another walk before Mitchell gets her sixth hit on the day, this time smashing a homerun over the left field fence.
Kaylee Frank (Fayetteville, NC) leads off the bottom of the fourth with a single starting another three run inning for the Trojans. Burns, Finelli and Mitchell all add singles in the inning to secure the win.
Basolt gets the win for the Trojans on the mound allowing only four hits with five strikeouts.
Softball travels to Virginia this weekend for a conference match up with Richard Bland. The Trojans will play a doubleheader on Friday, March 1 at 2pm and a single game on Saturday, March 2 at 12pm. The next home game for softball is Thursday, March 7 as they host Salem Community College at 12pm for two games.
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