#TCCSoftball splits DH with St. Johns River State

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 25, 2016) – Alyssa NeSmith's one-out single in the bottom of the seventh scored Madisen Blair from second base to give Tallahassee Community College a 2-1 win over NJCAA Region 8 No. 10 St. Johns River State College in game one of the teams' Thursday afternoon doubleheader. 

St. Johns River State answered with a 4-1 win in the nightcap to earn the split. 

After postponements on February 9 (cold) and 23 (rain), the third attempt at playing was the charm and the teams delivered a pair of low-scoring affairs, both the result of solid pitching performances from both sides. 

In the opener, sophomore pitcher Alexandra Cook outdueled the Vikings' Shelby Griffis for the 2-1 victory. 

Tallahassee got on the board in the second, courtesy of Blair's leadoff home run – and Cook carried the 1-0 lead to the sixth when St. Johns River State rallied to tie the game. 

Amanda Peck led off the sixth with a double, stole third and scored on Sydney Shows' single to center – the first earned run allowed by Cook in her last five starts. 

Tallahassee scored just as quickly to end the game in its final at-bat. 

Blair led off the inning with a single and moved into scoring position on Casey Durham's sac bunt. The next batter, NeSmith, singled Blair home for the walk-off victory. 

Blair (2-for-3, two runs scored, RBI) had half of the Eagles' four hits. 

Cook allowed only four hits (no walks) and struck out six en route to her fifth straight victory. 

In the nightcap, the Vikings scored two runs in the third then added a pair of runs in the seventh, all against Tallahassee starter Raya Moncus, in the 4-1 win. 

Trailing 2-0, the Eagles were poised for a big inning in the fifth, loading the bases with only out one but came away with just a single run. 

Durham hit into a fielder's choice to score Brooke Marendino from third but the speedy Alycia Smith was forced out at third for the second out. NeSmith grounded out to first to end the Eagles' best scoring threat of the game. 

St. Johns River State added a couple of insurance runs in the seventh. 

Tallahassee managed just five hits in game two – one each by Smith, Kristin Gunter, Blair, Brooke Bates and Jaylene Pryor. 

Moncus scattered seven hits and two walks in the complete-game effort. 

Tallahassee will host St. Petersburg College for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday. Both games can been seen live on TCCeagles.com.