Game One l Game Two
LAKE WALES, Fla. – For the third consecutive year, the no. 25 ranked Warner University softball team were crowned The Sun Conference regular season champions as they completed their conference series sweep of Edward Waters College 14-1 and 20-3 to extend their win streak to a season-high eight games. The Royals close out regular season play 28-12-1 (13-2) while the Tigers fall to 7-32 (0-15).
In the first game, the Royals only needed eight hits as they were aided by five walks and two HBP’s to put away the Tigers in five innings. Kaitlyn Grimail started on the mound for the Royals and pitched three scoreless innings while giving up only one hit and striking out five batters. Niki Helms pitched two relief innings, while surrendering one run and striking out one batter. Freshman Jamie Leigha Smith led the Royals offense, batting 1-for-1 with three RBI’s. Also tallying multiple RBI’s in the game were Jennifer Rioseco , Amber Boyd and Amanda King with two apiece.
Registering the two hits for the Tigers were Christina Holden and Alise Francis while Jasmine Randolph drove in their lone run.
In between the two games, the Royals five seniors were honored: Franki Grimes , Hope Franklin , Samantha Swofford , Heather Norris and Lindsay Garchinski .
In the nightcap, the Tigers had a better showing as they jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, capitalizing on back-to-back errors from the Royals. However, Franklin making her collegiate pitching debut settled down and induced three consecutive groundouts to close out the inning.
In the bottom of the inning the Royals offense proved too much for the Tigers as Warner scored a season high for runs in one inning with 11, giving the Royals a nine-run cushion. The Royals eventually ended the game with a season-high 20 hits, with Norris leading the way with four hits, Danielle Fennimore and Garchinski followed with three hits apiece and Rioseco, Swofford, Kasey Boykin , and King each had two hits apiece. Grimes tallied five RBI’s to lead the game.
Franklin pitched a four-inning no-hitter to earn the first win of her collegiate career. She gave up three runs and surrendered one walk while striking out two batters. Swofford pitched one relief inning and gave up one hit while striking out one batter.
Francis drove in two of the Tigers runs while Randolph registered their lone hit in the game.
The Royals will now turn their focus to The Sun Conference Tournament where they are the no. 1 seed and will face the no. 4 seed St. Thomas University (14-25, 6-9). Warner will host the tournament at the Diamond Plex in Winter Haven, Fla. May 8-9; first round games are scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. start.