MELBOURNE, Fla. (Softball) – Florida Tech (24-27, 10-14 SSC) once again played newly 13th-ranked Rollins (37-7, 18-3 SSC) tough, but the Tars pulled out two wins on Senior Day Wednesday at Nancy Bottge Field. The Tars won game one in 10 innings, 2-0, and game two, 2-1.

“All three games were really good and could have gone either way,” head coach Val Silvestrini said. “We played with one of the best teams in the nation.”

In game one, Tars pitchers Amye McIntyre and Hope Bitzer buckled down in pressure situations. Both combined to force the Panthers into stranding 14 base runners.

Taylor Smith (10-11) took the loss for FIT, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk in four innings of relief. Starter Brianna Barth had a no-hitter through five innings and sat the Tars down in order in the first four.

Two runs in the first inning proved to be enough for Rollins in game two. Once again, Bitzer and McIntyre worked together for the win. They stranded 10 base runners and Bitzer gave up the opposition’s lone run in a four-walk second inning.

Barth (11-15) fittingly gave her team one final quality start, pitching a complete game seven innings.

In between the games, the Panthers recognized their four seniors and two graduate students for their contributions to the program: Barth, Natalie Beach, Lauren Cole, Emily Densem, Brooke Fisher and Sasha Stepaniuk.

“I told our seniors I’m thankful they were a part of this program,” Silvestrini added. “When I came here, four were part of the team. All six have helped us improve every single year. They set the tone by playing with a lot of heart. They found a way to make the team better, on and off the field. We’re definitely going to miss them next year.”