Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3
    On March 10th-13th, the Hawks traveled to Florida to participate in a week of intense competition. On deck for Heartland were nationally-ranked State College of Florida, SUNY Adirondack, Polk State College, and Eastern Florida State College.

    On the first day, the team jumped right into action, taking a trip to Bradenton to face #24-ranked State College of Florida for a doubleheader under the lights. The Hawks dropped two, losing 2-11 and 2-16. At the plate, centerfielder Kendall Lowery led game one, going three-for-three with a stolen base. Adding a hit, a piece to the total was the rest of the outfield, Sienna Aragones and Sophia Beckett. Aragones scored the only two runs for the Hawks with her hit and walk through her three at-bats. Tayla Eaves took the mound through 24 batters, allowing eight earned runs and sitting down four batters.
    Hawks turned around for game two, where Shelby Oakley opened the scoring in the first with a single to score Aragones. Nataliha Oleniczak led Heartland Softball with two hits in two at-bats. Jayde Gonet took the mound, allowing 11 earned runs over four innings, striking out two and walking two. The Hawks fell short 2-16, but were ready to bounce back for their second day.

    Day two was held in Winter Haven, where the Hawks bounced back against SUNY Adirondack, picking up a 14-5 win against the Timberwolves. Reliever Keearrah Brown collected a win on the mound. The right-handed pitcher threw three innings, facing 11 batters. Brown only allowed one hit and one run with a walk, along with seven strikeouts. Jayde Gonet was able to hold off SUNY to four runs (two earned runs) in the first three innings as she went through 17 total batters. The freshman added to the strikeout total with three. The bats were hot in the first game with a total of 13 hits through 26 at-bats. Leading the charge, the designated hitter, Araceli Condi-Espinosa, batted 1.000 with two RBIs and a double. First basemen Oakley, Rylee Galloway, and Bella Johnson added two hits apiece, with Oakley's two hits resulting in doubles and an RBI. The Hawks ended the game in six innings and turned around to play their last game of the day.
    The second game against the Polk State Eagles was a back-and-forth endeavor until the Eagles broke away in the fourth inning. Oakley, Olenicak, Beckett, and Caitlyn Gillette added a hit each through the five innings. Showing patience at the plate was Espinosa with a walk and a run. Tayla Eaves threw the four innings with two walks allowed and two strikeouts. The Hawks fell to the Eagles 2-11 to end the day and returned the following day in Cocoa, Florida.

    The last day of games in Florida presented a challenge as the Hawks were unable to string together any hits at the plate against Eastern Florida State College. Sophia Beckett, Olenicak, and pitcher Brown each collected a hit. Showing a good eye on offense were Beckett and Espinosa with a free base each. On the mound, Brown faced 28 batters with 10 earned runs through four innings, only allowing a single free base. The Hawks fell 0-13 and stayed to face the Titans following game one.
    The last game of the spring trip was led by Oleniczak with two hits in her two at-bats. Adding a hit each were Lowery and Oakley, putting the ball in play in the first and fourth innings, respectively. In the field, the defense turned a double play in the third. The Hawks were also able to go through the game without committing an error. The Hawks took the 0-8 loss as the trip came to a close.
Heartland Softball returns to Normal, IL, to play at the Corn Crib on Thursday, March 19th, to face Rock Valley Community College for a doubleheader.