This story was written by Bay College SID Mike Pankow

MELBOURNE, FL – The Norse Softball Team (2-10) wrapped up their spring trip in Florida suffering a loss in a closely contested match with the Eastern Florida State College Titans (14-10). 

A three-run fourth and a two-run fifth inning for the Titans would give them a 5-1 victory at home. The Norse threatened in the early going.  A pair of leadoff singles in the first were left stranded in the first and a leadoff single in the second was left in scoring position.  The game was scoreless through the first two innings.

Bay College finally broke through in the third.  A one-out Trojan error set up Sarah Wynn (FR, Pitt Meadows, BC) who lined a single into left, bringing Lexi Challier (SO, Escanaba, MI) to the plate from second.  The Norse stranded runners on first and third in the inning.

The Trojans battled back in the bottom of the fourth.  After a leadoff single, a one-out error put runners on the corners.  Mertixell Blessa (SO, Velencia, Spain) doubled in two runs to give the home team the lead.  Jaydah Stroup (FR, Coral Springs, FL) drove in a third run with a bunt single.

EFSC added two runs in the fifth, aided by a Bay error.

The Norse saw a two out rally fall short in the seventh.  Riley Arndt (FR, Bark River, MI) and Kaitlyn Hardwick (SO, Gladstone, MI) singled, but Bay could not bring them around.

Shaniyah Pope (FR, Tampa, FL) earned the win, pitching seven complete and giving up seven hits and one unearned run while striking out nine.

Karlie Patron (FR, Ishpeming, MI) went the distance for Bay, giving up seven hits, two earned runs, and two walks while striking out two in six innings of work.

Hardwick led the Norse by going two for four at the plate.

The Norse will play next on March 16 and 17.  It will be their second trip to the Hodag Dome in Rhinelander, WI.  There they will face Madison College and Lake Region State College.