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Falcons Fly High: 4-0 Sweep Kicks Off Softball Season

Falcons Fly High: 4-0 Sweep Kicks Off Softball Season
January 25, 2026
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Game 1: Daytona State 5, Florence-Darlington Tech 2
Daytona State opened the 2026 season with a strong all-around performance, defeating Florence-Darlington Technical College 5-2 to begin the year 1-0 at home.
The Falcons capitalized early, scoring twice in the first inning. Aurielle Reavis crossed the plate on a Florence-Darlington error before Destiny Horcajo drove in Riley Makousky with a groundout to give Daytona State a 2-0 lead.
The offense continued to manufacture runs over the next three innings. Ashley Bert delivered an RBI single in the second, Azlynn Gomes scored on an error in the third, and Horcajo added her second RBI of the afternoon with a single in the fourth to extend the advantage to 5-0.
 
Offensive Highlights
Daytona State collected eight hits in the win:
 
Aurielle Reavis: 2-for-4, run scored, stolen base
Destiny Horcajo: 1-for-3, 2 RBI
Ashley Bert: 2-for-3, RBI
Nyree James: 1-for-2, double, run scored
Riley Makousky: 1-for-3, 2 runs scored, stolen base
 
Dominant Pitching
Ava Unser set the tone in the circle, striking out 10 batters over five innings to earn her first win of the season. She allowed two earned runs on six hits while working around four walks.
Alexis Miranda closed out the final two innings, allowing just two hits and striking out one to secure the victory.
Florence-Darlington managed eight hits in the contest, highlighted by a strong day from Payton Melinauskas, who went 3-for-4 with a double, triple, RBI, and stolen base. However, the Stingers stranded 11 runners and were limited by Daytona State’s pitching staff, which combined for 11 strikeouts.
 
 
Game 2: Daytona State 21, Florence-Darlington Tech 2 (5 innings)
Daytona State’s offense erupted in dominant fashion in the second game of the season-opening doubleheader, rolling to a 21-2 run-rule victory to move to 2-0 on the year.
The Falcons wasted no time exploding for six runs in the first inning. Azlynn Gomes set the tone with an RBI triple to right field to plate Aurielle Reavis. Maggie Castaneda followed with a two-run double, while timely hits down the lineup, combined with Florence-Darlington defensive miscues, extended the early advantage to 6-0.
The bats stayed hot in the second inning as Daytona State poured on seven more runs, capitalizing on aggressive baserunning and continued pressure at the plate. RBI singles from Alexa Edmands, Nyree James, Jolie Perillo, and Reavis highlighted the frame as the Falcons stretched the lead to 13-0.
After Florence-Darlington scratched across two unearned runs in the fourth, Daytona State responded emphatically with an eight-run bottom half to put the game out of reach. Castaneda delivered another clutch two-RBI double, Perillo added a two-run single, and Gomes continued her monster performance with another RBI.
 
Offensive Leaders
Daytona State totaled 16 hits and 21 runs, with production throughout the lineup:
 
Azlynn Gomes: 4-for-5, triple, 4 RBI
Aurielle Reavis: 3-for-3, 4 runs scored, 2 RBI, 2 walks
Alexa Edmands: 3-for-4, 2 RBI
Maggie Castaneda: 2-for-4, two doubles, 4 RBI
Juleah Patterson: 1-for-1, RBI, 2 walks
Jolie Perillo: 2-for-3, 3 RBI
 
Nearly every starter reached base as the Falcons drew seven walks and capitalized on four Florence-Darlington errors.
 
Pitching Performance
Kaylee Martineau earned her first win of the season, tossing three shutout innings while allowing just two hits. Leala Kloewer struck out three in one inning of work, and Riley Makousky closed out the fifth to secure the run-rule victory.
Florence-Darlington was limited to four hits, with Payton Melinauskas recording a triple and Keira Bell driving in a run.
 
 
Game 3: Daytona State 3, Florence-Darlington Tech 2
Daytona State battled back from an early deficit to secure a 3-2 victory, improving to 3-0 on the season with a gritty win at home.
Florence-Darlington struck first in the opening inning when Payton Melinauskas launched a two-run home run to center field. The Falcons, however, responded immediately.
In the bottom of the first, Destiny Horcajo lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Juleah Patterson and cut the deficit to 2-1. Daytona State evened the score in the second inning when Gabby Giugliano delivered an RBI single up the middle, scoring Nyree James.
The game remained tied until the sixth inning. With two outs, Ashley Bert came through with a clutch RBI single to right-center field, scoring Alexa Edmands and giving the Falcons their first lead of the afternoon at 3-2.
 
Offensive Leaders
Daytona State totaled six hits in the contest:
 
Gabby Giugliano: 2-for-3, RBI
Ashley Bert: 1-for-3, game-winning RBI
Juleah Patterson: 1-for-3, run scored
Alexa Edmands: 1-for-3, run scored
 
The Falcons also applied pressure on the bases, recording stolen bases from Destiny Horcajo and Nyree James.
 
Dominant Performance in the Circle
Ava Unser delivered another strong outing, tossing a complete game while allowing just three hits and one earned run. She struck out nine and worked efficiently through seven innings to earn the victory.
Florence-Darlington managed only three hits, with Melinauskas accounting for the biggest swing of the game in the first inning. After that, Unser settled in and limited scoring opportunities, shutting the door over the final six frames.
 
 
Game 4: Daytona State 4, Florence-Darlington Tech 3
In a tightly contested finale to the four-game series, Daytona State edged Florence-Darlington 4-3 to complete the sweep and finish the opening weekend 4-0 at home.
The Falcons jumped ahead early in the first inning. Alexa Edmands was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Aurielle Reavis and giving Daytona State a 1-0 lead. The offense continued in the third, with Edmands reaching on a fielding error to drive in Destiny Horcajo, followed by a single from Sara Connor to plate Edmands, pushing the advantage to 3-0.
Florence-Darlington mounted a comeback in the fifth and sixth innings. Kai Pace delivered a sacrifice fly to score Keira Bell, followed by Olivia Goforth’s RBI single and Zoei Hunt’s RBI single, tying the game 3-3 heading into the sixth.
Daytona State responded in the bottom of the sixth. Edmands came through again with a sacrifice fly, scoring Riley Makousky to regain the lead at 4-3. The Falcons’ bullpen, led by Leala Kloewer, held strong over the final inning to secure the victory.
 
Offensive Highlights
Daytona State tallied 10 hits, with contributions throughout the lineup:
 
Alexa Edmands: 0-for-2, 3 RBI, 2 sac flies, reached base multiple times
Aurielle Reavis: 2 hits, 1 run scored, 1 stolen base
Azlynn Gomes: 3-for-3, double
Sara Connor: 1-for-3, RBI
Riley Makousky: 1 run scored
 
Pitching Performance
Leala Kloewer earned the win, pitching seven innings while allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits, striking out three, and walking two.
Florence-Darlington’s Keira Bell pitched six strong innings, allowing four unearned runs on 10 hits while striking out four, but ultimately came up short in a series dominated by Daytona State’s timely hitting and clutch scoring.
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