Strickland's Walkoff Gives Pirate Softball Victory Over Gulf Coast

It took extra innings, but the Pirates held out and defeated Gulf Coast 5-3 in an exciting back and forth game. Gulf Coast got on the board fast scoring one run in the top of the first inning, but the Pirates answered back immediately as Emily Corbitt led off with a single and was driven in by a double off the bat of Jensen Strickland. The score stayed at 1-1 until the bottom of the 3rd when Strickland struck again and launched a home run over the left field fence to give the Pirates a 2-1 lead. Gulf Coast regained the lead in the top of the 6th when the Commodores used three singles and a walk to make the score 3-2.  In the bottom of the seventh Kacie Cahill started the inning with a single and advanced to third base on a error before scoring the tying run on a ground ball out. It stayed 3-3 until the 9th inning when Madison Marshall doubled to start things off. The Commodores decided to intentionally walk Strickland, but on the second pitch of the at bat she reached out and drove a home run to right-center field for the walkoff win. Strickland finished the game 3-for-5 with 2 home runs, a double and 5 RBI's. Erika Greek went the distance on the mound and scattered 10 hits while striking out seven.

In the second game of the round robin Tallahassee ended up taking an early lead the Pirates could never quite overcome as they fell 10-5. While the Pirates outhit the Eagles 14-12 they also unfortunately left 12 runners stranded on base. Emily Corbitt was 3-for-5 in the game with a double, RBI and run scored while Madison Marshall was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored. Kacie Cahill and Danielle de Ruiter both recorded multiple hits, doubles and RBI's for the Pirates.