Pembroke, NC - Felician opened the 2026 season with a confident, all-around effort, earning a 6–4 win over Kutztown at Willoughby Field behind an explosive first inning and steady pitching from start to finish.
The Golden Falcons set the tone right away in the bottom of the first. After singles from Hannah Ramirez and Mikayla Brown, Karina De La Vega delivered a huge three-run double into the gap, instantly swinging momentum in Felician's favor. Moments later, Makayla De La Rosa added a sacrifice fly to bring home De La Vega, capping a four-run opening frame that put Felician firmly in control early.
Offensively, Felician made the most of its opportunities, finishing with six runs on seven hits while applying constant pressure. De La Vega stayed locked in all afternoon, finishing with two doubles and driving in three runs. De La Rosa added another big swing in the sixth inning, launching a solo home run to left to provide a crucial insurance run. Mikayla Brown chipped in with a hit and scored a run, while Kelsey Vitalis and Alyson Walling each reached base and helped manufacture runs.
In the circle, Jocelyn Moody delivered a composed season-opening start. The senior worked four innings, limiting damage and keeping Kutztown from stringing together big innings. One of the game's biggest moments came in the third, when Moody worked through traffic and avoided further damage after Kutztown cut into the lead.
Skye Limardo took over in relief and was sharp down the stretch. Limardo shut the door over the final three innings, allowing just one run and consistently inducing weak contact. Her ability to escape a fifth-inning jam and strand runners preserved Felician's advantage and ultimately sealed the win.
Defensively, the Golden Falcons stayed steady behind their pitching, making the routine plays and responding well whenever Kutztown threatened. Felician also showed resilience, answering Kutztown's late push with runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to maintain separation.
With timely extra-base hits from Karina De La Vega, power from Makayla De La Rosa, and composed pitching from Jocelyn Moody and Skye Limardo, Felician showcased its ability to strike early, respond under pressure, and close out a tight game.
Top Performers
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Karina De La Vega – 2-for-3, R, 2 2B, 3 RBI
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Makayla De La Rosa – 1-for-2, R, HR, 2 RBI, SF
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Jocelyn Moody – 4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO, W
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Skye Limardo – 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, SV
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Mikayla Brown – 1-for-3, R
