Pirates Sweep Northwest Florida

The Pensacola State softball team came out swinging on Monday against Northwest Florida and swept the doubleheader. 

Northwest capitalized on some walks in the first inning to get on the board first and held a 1-0 lead until the fifth inning. With two outs Kaeleen Koehler mashed a solo homerun over the right field fence to tie the game at one. Alexis Guzman walked and then pinch runner Destiny Pacetti stole second base before Ashley Valencia singled to right center to plate Pacetti and give PSC a 2-1 lead. 

The Raiders responded in the top of the sixth with a 3-run homerun to put them back in from 4-2. 

In their half of the inning the Pirates again rallied with two outs on the board. Raquel Latta singled and Madison Myers was hit by a pitch before pinch hitter Ana Reyes legged out an infield single to load the bases. Koehler was hit by a pitch which allowed one run to come in and then Alexis Guzman lasered a grand slam over the fence to give Pensacola 7-4 lead that they did not relinquish.

Ashley Valencia was 2-for-3 in the game with an RBI. Shayne O'Connell pitched a complete game and struck out eight batters.

In game two the Pirates struck first when Alexis Guzman singled up the middle to score Sadie Rusteika. Northwest answered in the second when they used a couple of doubles to take a 2-1 lead. 

The score held until the bottom of the third when Natalie Sorensen smacked a double off the fence in right center to drive in two runs to make the score 3-2 for PSC. Kat McGlamry drove in the Pirates fourth run before Kayla Leibman got a bases loaded pinch hit single to extend the lead to 6-2. 

The Raiders capitalized on an error in the fourth to pick up one run and make the score 6-3 but the Pirates answered right back in their half of the inning. Ashley Valencia started things with a double before Natalie Sorensen drove a pitch over the centerfield fence to make it 8-3. 

The defense held for both team until the bottom of the sixth inning when Ana Reyes smacked a 2-run homerun to make it 10-3. Northwest added one run in the top of the seventh before a flyout ended the game.

The Pirates collected 13 hits in the game with Ashley Valencia going 3-for-4 (double), Natalie Sorensen 2-for-4 (double, homerun, 4 RBI), Ana Reyes 2-for-3 (homerun, 2 RBI) and Madison Myers 2-for-4. 

Savannah Foster went the distance in the circle and only allowed 2 earned runs while striking out 9 batters. 

The Pirates will host Chipola at home on Wednesday, March 27th at 4:00 and 6:00 pm.