The Central Florida Patriots used the long ball to defeat Hillsborough in both games on Thursday. In game one the Pats hit five home runs, including three by infielder Brooke Roberts. Roberts hit a two-run homer in the first to give them a 2-1 lead. She hit another two-run homer in the third in her next at bat and then ended the game with a three-run homer in the fifth which put the Pats up by nine (13-4) and gave them the mercy run-rule. Megan Loftis went a perfect 4 for 4 scoring 4 runs in the game.

Ashley Martinec got the win in the circle throwing five innings while allowing four runs, only two earned, on six hits and one walk while striking out two.

Game 1 Leading Hitters:
Loftis: 4-4, 4 R, RBI, 2 SB
Roberts: 3-4, 3 R, 7 RBI, 3 HR
Trinity Armstrong: 2-2
Gianna Guerriero: 1-3, 1 R, RBI, Sac Fly, SB
Hannah Meyer: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR
Hailey Scott: 1-2, R, RBI, HR

In Game Two both teams traded leads but it was the Patriots who came out on top when Gianna Guerriero became a hero for the Pats, hitting a walk off home run in the bottom of the seventh for the 8-7 victory. The Patriots squadered a one run lead in the seventh. The Hawks got the first batter on with an error by Hailey Scott and then the next batter was hit by a pitch by Patriot pitcher Hailey Guffey. Both later scored in the inning to tie the game. Guffey got her 13th win of the year throwing a complete game seven innings, sritiking out five, giving up 7 runs on 10 hits but only 2 of those being earned. Hannah Meyer added her second home run of the day with a two-run home run in the third.

Game 2 Leading Hitters:
Guerriero: 3-5, R, 2 RBI, HR
Scott: 3-4, R
Armstrong: 3-3, R, 2 RBI, 2 2B
Roberts: 1-3, R, RBI, HR
Loftis: 2-4, R, 2B
Meyer: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR

The #9 nationally ranked Patriots improve to 23-5 and will next play at home on Saturday with a double header vs Eastern Florida State starting at 1 pm.