CLEARWATER, Fla. (Softball)- Florida Tech seemed to not let the five-day hiatus slow them down after coming into the weekend on a three-game win streak as the Panthers defeated St. Mary's by a score of 5-2 to open their participation in the NFCA Leadoff Classic.
The team allowed St. Mary's to grab the early momentum after giving up a run in the bottom of the first. This however did not discourage the Panthers as they minimized the damage and then went on to equalize the game at one-all in the top of the second off of a
Julianna Goldberg double.
The score stayed tied until Florida Tech came up to bat in the top of the fourth and took the lead for good after a four-run inning.
Makayla Palmer was the batter to break the deadlock when she singled down the left field line before advancing to second as they unsuccessfully tried to throw out
Vanessa Rubio at home.
Goldberg added another hit and a RBI to her stat line when see singled up the middle later in the fourth. Kaitlyn Buchholz brought in the final two runs when she sent a shot to left center allowing
Audrey Gangloff and
Rachel Kraak to cross home plate.
Rachel Pence (4-1) picked up another complete game victory, bringing her total to four on the year. Pence decimated the Rattlers' striking out nine while only allowing four hits and two earned runs on the day.
Florida Tech now turns its sight towards Wayne State and Central Missouri. Those games are set for Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. ET and 12:30 p.m., respectively. Access links to live coverage of the action, if available, at FloridaTechSports.com.
