Eastern Florida State College Sports Roundup
By Space Coast Daily // March 21, 2014
Women’s Tennis Falls to Washburn University
Eastern Florida women’s tennis team dropped a 7-2 decision to NCAA Division II Washburn University of Topkea, KS on Thursday at Rollins College in Winter Park.
Eastern Florida fell to 3-7 in its inaugural spring championship season. Washburn improved to 2-6.
Next up for Eastern Florida are back-to-back Florida College System Activities Association matches at Florida State College Manatee-Sarasota and St. Petersburg College on March 28 and 29 respectively.
Eastern Florida Softball Sweeps Broward
Eastern Florida freshman Dajia Jones pitched back-to-back complete game shutouts as the Titans beat Broward College 6-0 and 6-0 to move into first place in the Florida College System Activities Association Southern Conference softball standings on Thursday.
Eastern Florida improved to 16-17 overall and 3-1 in the conference. Broward fell to 1-22 overall and played its first conference games on Thursday. The complete-game shutouts gave Jones three in her last four outings. She allowed only a combined 10 hits in the three shutout games, the first a 2-0 victory over Palm Beach State on March 15. On Thursday she gave up four hits in the first game and only two in the second, retiring the final 12 batters she faced and not allowing a walk.
Titans sophomore centerfielder and leadoff hitter Devin Williams provided much offensive support going a combined 7-for-8 and scoring a total of four runs in the two games. Eastern Florida finished the night with a total of 22 hits and did not commit an error. “If we play the game and don’t make errors and make the everyday play, you saw the result, two shutout wins,” said Eastern Florida assistant coach Bob Yanczewski. “But you’ve got to tip your cap to the pitcher (Jones). That was a freshman in two conference games. No matter whom you’re playing she stepped up to pitch tonight.
“She had 101 pitches in game one and 67 in game two in a seven-inning game in a conference game.” Jones struck out just two batters in the second game but induced nine ground ball outs. “I’m squeezing the corners, hitting spots,” Jones said. “Whatever coach calls I’ve got to make it work. The spin’s got to work, just got to hit my spots.”
Jones credited an increased level of comfort and confidence in herself at the college level with being a factor in her recent success. She struck out five and walked two batters in the first game. Williams went 4-for-4 with three singles and a double in the first game and scored two runs.
“That’s a good night,” Yanczewski said of Williams’ overall production. “We need that. She’s our leadoff hitter. She’s a sophomore captain. She has to be there.”
“My mental game is a lot better, I’m a lot confident and relaxed in the box. Just focusing on hitting the ball and keeping a clear mind in the batter’s box.” — Devin Williams
“My mental game is a lot better, I’m a lot confident and relaxed in the box. Just focusing on hitting the ball and keeping a clear mind in the batter’s box.” Freshman Fallon McLaughlin also scored twice and had two hits in the first game for the Titans who collected 11 hits. Sophomore Bri Seaman also had a two-hit game. Jones had two hits in the second game along with McLaughlin and sophomore Brooke Formby. McLaughlin also scored twice.
The Titans now have five consecutive doubleheader dates on the road before returning home for their final two regular-season doubleheaders: Wednesday, April 16 against conference foe Indian River State and Saturday, April 19 against conference foe Miami Dade College.
