Pirates Split with Gulf Coast

Pensacola State fell behind early and couldn't come back in an 8-2 loss to Gulf Coast State on Saturday in game one. With the help of an error and triple Gulf Coast took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. The Pirates answered in their half of the inning starting with a single from Emily Corbitt that was followed by a Lia Johnson walk to set the table for Madison Marshall to drive an RBI double over the center fielder's head. After that Johnson scored on a smoked line drive off the bat of Jensen Strickland that the shortstop could not handle. Unfortunately those were the only runs the Pirates could push across in the game despite collecting eight hits. Shelby Thornsberry led the Pirates going 3-for-3 in the game while Marshall was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI.

Again Gulf Coast took an early lead in game two when they plated two runs in the first and one in the second, but the Pirates were able to bounce back. In the bottom of the third Emily Corbitt was hit by a pitch to start things off as Lia Johnson followed with a single and Madison Marshall walked to load the bases. After a pitching change Jensen Strickland stroked a double to left field that scored two runs and then an illegal pitch plated the tying run. The score remained tied until the bottom of the sixth when a single to right field off the bat of Marshall scored Caitlyn Yockey and Kacie Cahill. The Commodores went down quietly in the top of the seventh to end the game. Six different players recorded hits for the Pirates while Strickland (2), Marshall (2) and Shelby Thornsberry (1) drove in the runs. Strickland entered the game in relief and received the win as she threw five innings and only gave up three hits.