Softball Recap: Academy at the Lakes Comes Up Short

Academy at the Lakes fought the good fight in their extra-innings match against Seffner Christian on Monday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Crusaders by a score of 5-4. The Wildcats were given a dose of their own medicine in this game as the Crusaders apparently hadn't forgotten their defeat the last time these teams played back in May of 2022.

Elizabeth Budine spent all 7.1 innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned runs on six hits and racked up seven Ks. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances.

At the plate, Ella Picard was cooking despite her team's loss, going 3-for-5 with one stolen base, one double, and one RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Nola Reilly, who went 3-for-5 with one run.

This is the second loss in a row for Academy at the Lakes and nudges their season record down to 6-8. As for Seffner Christian, they have been performing incredibly well recently as they've won seven of their last eight games. That's provided a massive bump to their 10-6 record this season.

Academy at the Lakes will head out on the road to square off against Land O' Lakes at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. As for Seffner Christian, they will look to defend their home field on Tuesday against Seven Rivers Christian at 4:30 p.m.