TCC Softball drops pair of 2-1 decisions at NFCA Leadoff Classic

COLUMBUS, Ga. (February 28, 2014) - Tallahassee Community College's softball team had its eight-game winning streak snapped on Friday when Southern Union State (Ala.) Community College defeated the Eagles, 2-1, in the opening game at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. 

In its second game of the day, Tallahassee dropped another 2-1 decision to NJCAA DII No. 5 Kirkwood (Iowa) Community College. 

Tallahassee averaged close to 11 runs per game during its eight-game winning streak. On Friday, however, the Eagles could only plate two combined runs, despite tallying a total of 13 hits. 

Against Southern Union, Brenda Santana's fourth-inning solo homer broke a scoreless tie and gave starting pitcher Ashley Dobson a 1-0 lead. Dobson allowed only four hits and didn't walk a single batter, but two of the hits she yielded - both to Heather Smart - proved to be the difference. 

Smart answered Santana's homer with one of her own in the top of the fifth to tie the game. She homered again in the top of the seventh with what proved to be the winning run. 

Santana was 1-for-3 with the homer. Alexis Huss was 2-for-3. 

In the day's second game, Mariah Rivera, the reigning FCSAA Softball Pitcher of the Week, limited Kirkwood to just three hits over five innings but came up on the short end of another 2-1 loss. 

Kirkwood scored two runs in the second and that was enough for starting pitcher Shyanne Saladino, who scattered six hits and one walk over seven innings in the circle. 

The Eagles scored their only run of the game in the sixth when Huss singled home Danielle Patterson from second. 

Te Reo Powhiri Matautia and Dominique Davis had two hits each for Tallahassee, who is now 13-6 on the season. 

The Eagles will wrap up pool play at 12:30 p.m. Saturday against Georgia Perimeter College before moving into bracket play.