VIERA, Fl. – The Monroe University softball team (12-8 overall) dropped its pair of games at the Space Coast Games to Illinois Central College 6-5 and Bryant & Strattan College 8-2 on Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED Game 1

·      The Cougars opened the scoring with a pair of runs off an RBI single and a ground out to put them ahead 2-0 after the second inning.

·      In the top of the fourth inning, Sophia Davis reached on an error, scoring Gabriella Prekpalaj to narrow the Cougars' lead to 2-1.

·      In the top of the fifth inning, the Mustangs tacked on three runs coming off a fielder's choice by Reese Surratt, an RBI single by Richeilys Rodriguez, and a wild pitch to bring the Mustangs back to a 4-2 lead.

·      Then, in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Cougars added a pair of runs on an RBI single and double to tie the game at 4-4.

·      After no more runs were added after the seventh inning, the Mustangs added a run off an error by the third baseman, scoring Kerris Johnson to give the Mustangs a 5-4 lead.

·      The Cougars answered with a run of their own in the eighth inning off a fly out to the second baseman to tie the game at 5-5.

·      Then, in the bottom of the ninth inning, an error by the third baseman led to a run by the Cougars to take the 6-5 victory.

Game 2

·      Rodriguez ripped an RBI single to left field, scoring Surratt to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

·      In the third inning, Bryant & Stratton tallied three runs off an RBI double and single to take a 3-1 lead.

·      Then in the fourth inning, the Bobcats added a run off an error to take a 4-1 lead.

·      In the fifth inning, the Bobcats tacked on a pair of runs off a single and sacrifice fly to give them a 6-1 lead.

·      In the top of the sixth inning, the Bobcats tallied runs off an RBI single to give them an 8-1 lead.

·      Monroe could only salvage one more run in the bottom of the seventh inning off a stolen base, resulting in an 8-2 loss.

STATS AND NOTES

·      This is the first loss for the Mustangs to Bryant & Stratton reserve team.

·      Both sides are now tied in the series history between the Mustangs and Illinois Central College 1-1.

·      In the first game, Sudaishely Hooi started for the Mustangs, going 4.2 innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out one batter.

·      In game two, Sophia Davis started going 4.1 innings, allowing three earned runs and five hits.

·      Rodriguez tallied two RBIs in the games while Surratt tallied one.

UP NEXT

·      Monroe wraps up their time at the Space Coast Games on Sunday, March 15, when they face Illinois Central and Williston State College. The first game will begin at 10:00 a.m.