Tritons hand Knights 1st softball loss
A day after the North Fort Myers Red Knights celebrated a huge softball victory, the Mariner Tritons got one of their own, and it came at the expense of the Red Knights.
The host Tritons held on for a 2-1 win Friday night, handing the Red Knights their first loss of the season. It took the combination of pitching, defense and just enough offense.
With the Tritons leading 2-0, the game culminated with a pressure-packed top of the seventh. The Red Knights pushed one run across and had the tying run in scoring position, but the rally ended when Mariner pitcher Carrie Grigiski recorded a strikeout for the second out and first baseman Samantha Rapp snared a line drive off the bat of Alyssa Dougherty to end the game.
“Everyone was focused. It was awesome,” said Rapp, a sophomore. “I have never seen us like that before.”
While the Red Knights (12-1) played Thursday and defeated Fort Myers 1-0 in an emotional game, the Tritons (5-4) were rested up and prepared for the rematch after losing to the Red Knights 7-3 earlier this season.
They gained even more confidence in the first inning when they were able to grab a 1-0 lead.
Nicole Roderiques had a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a bunt by Grigiski and scored an unearned run. North made an error on a ball hit by MacKenzie Hunt.
The Tritons took a 2-0 lead in the fifth on an RBI single by Abby Willis.
The Tritons’ defense came up big in each of the final two innings. They ended the sixth with a double play. North’s Jackie Owen grounded to the shortstop Cody Sawyer, who threw to first for one out, and Rapp fired to third for the final out of the inning.
The Tritons return to action Saturday at Cape Coral. North travels to Cypress Lake Monday.
North Ft. Myers 000 000 1 – 1 3 1
Mariner 100 010 x – 2 5 3
W – Grigiski. L – Owen.