Game Matchup: No. 9 Keiser University Seahawks vs. No. 18 Coastal Georgia University Mariners
Records:Â No. 9Â Keiser Seahawks (42-7) vs. No. 18 Coastal Georgia Mariners (35-11)
Game Score:Â No. 9Â Keiser 9, No. 18Â Coastal Georgia 3
Pitchers of Record:Â W: M. Masternak (25-4), L: Clemons (11-3)
Time of Game:Â 6:30 PM
Eddie C. Moore Complex | Clearwater, Fla.
CLEARWATER, Fla. The Keiser University softball team opened Sun Conference Tournament play with a 9-3 victory over Coastal Georgia on Wednesday evening in Clearwater, improving to 42-7 on the season and advancing to the next round of the tournament. Jordan Brantley delivered the signature moment of the night, going 2-for-3 with a double and four RBI including a two-RBI single in the fourth and a two-RBI double in the fifth that helped blow the game open. Mackenzie Masternak earned the win on the mound, working five innings before Presley Wright closed out the final two frames as Keiser's offense erupted for six runs in the fifth inning to put the game out of reach.
Keiser struck first in the bottom of the first when Faith Campos reached on a fielder's choice, stole second, and scored on a Genesis Iglesias RBI single to left field to make it 1-0. Coastal Georgia answered in the third when they executed a sacrifice bunt to move a runner to second, and Rylee Mills followed with a two-out RBI single to right center to tie it at 1-1. Keiser retook the lead in the fourth when Iglesias singled to third base, Macy Schaaf moved her over with a sacrifice bunt, and after Sarah Phipps drew a walk and Olivia Shoemaker flew out to advance both runners, Brantley delivered a first-pitch single to second base that scored both Phipps and Iglesias to make it 3-1.
The game was effectively decided in the fifth inning when Keiser sent nine batters to the plate and scored six runs against a tiring Coastal Georgia pitching staff. Kaci Kidd led off with a double to center, Faith Campos singled to shortstop to advance her to third, and after Campos stole second and Genesis Iglesias drew a walk to load the bases, Macy Schaaf singled to center to score two. A Phipps bunt single loaded the bases again, Olivia Shoemaker drew a bases-loaded walk to force in another run, and Brantley capped the barrage with a two-RBI double to right field, pushing the lead to 9-2. Masternak worked five innings in all, allowing two earned runs on eight hits with one walk before giving way to Wright, who worked the final two innings. Coastal Georgia added a seventh-inning run on a Rily Andrews RBI single that scored an unearned run, but it was not enough as Keiser closed out the 9-3 victory.
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- Keiser opens Sun Conference Tournament play with a 9-3 victory over Coastal Georgia, improving to 42-7 on the season. The Seahawks advance to the next round of the tournament where they will face No. 3 Southeastern.
- Jordan Brantley was the offensive catalyst of the night, going 2-for-3 with a double and four RBI across two key at-bats. His two-RBI single in the fourth broke the tie and his two-RBI double in the fifth capped a six-run inning. He is now batting .302 on the season with 18 RBI.
- Mackenzie Masternak earned the win in the circle, improving to 25-4 on the season. She worked five innings, allowing two earned runs on eight hits with one walk and no strikeouts on 67 pitches and 46 strikes. Her season ERA now stands at 2.02.
- Presley Wright came on in the sixth and worked two innings in relief, allowing one unearned run on two hits with one strikeout on 24 pitches and 19 strikes. Wright holds a 6-1 record and a 2.30 ERA on the season.
- Macy Schaaf went 1-for-2 with a walk, two RBI, a stolen base, and a run scored, delivering a two-RBI single to center in the fifth inning when the bases were loaded. She is now batting .411 on the season with 36 RBI.
- Genesis Iglesias went 2-for-2 with two walks, an RBI, and a run scored, reaching base all four times she came to the plate. She is now batting .353 on the season with a .474 on-base percentage and 46 RBI.
- Faith Campos went 1-for-4 with two stolen bases, a run scored, and a fielder's choice in the first inning that started Keiser's first rally. She is now batting .395 on the season with 45 stolen bases on the year.
- Kaci Kidd reached base twice on a double and a walk, scored once, and was hit into a fielder's choice while reaching base in both of her on-base opportunities. She is now batting .350 on the season with a .394 on-base percentage.
- Olivia Shoemaker drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth inning to force in a run, continuing her role as a reliable presence in the lineup without requiring a hit to contribute. She now has 24 RBI on the season.
- Trinity Rohrer went 0-for-3 with an RBI groundout in the fifth inning that scored Olivia Shoemaker, contributing to the six-run frame while moving runners across despite not recording a hit. She now has 22 RBI on the season.
- Keiser drew seven walks on the night against Coastal Georgia pitching, turning plate discipline into baserunners that fueled the six-run fifth inning. The Seahawks drew four of those seven walks in the decisive fifth frame alone.
- Faith Campos gunned down a Coastal Georgia baserunner attempting to score from third on a flyout to center in the first inning, recording an outfield assist that helped limit damage early in the game before Keiser took full control.
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The Seahawks return to action tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. against No. 3 Southeastern in the next round of the Sun Conference Tournament.
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