MELBOURNE, Fla. (Softball) – Florida Tech had a rough start to the season on the first day of the Florida Tech Marriott First Pitch Classic as the Panthers were dealt a pair of losses to Angelo State and No. 3 Armstrong State by the score of 12-0 and 11-7, respectively.

In the season opener against Angelo, pitcher McKenzie Krutsinger (0-1) got the start and saw adversity early due to the hot bats of Rams. She surrendered a pair of two-run homers in the first inning and two more earned runs in the third.

The Rams would knock in six more runs in the seventh inning against Amanda Kahn, who came in relief, to earn the run away victory. The Panther bats were unable to get going against ASU starter Brandy Marlett, who pitched a complete game no-hitter for her first victory of the season.

The second game of the double-header saw the Panthers wake up offensively taking a 3-1 lead after the first inning. The Panthers held the lead until the fourth when a solo home run by Armstrong's Autumn Parrish tied the game up 3-3.

The Panthers quickly regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Hailey Leonard sent a shot up the middle and over the fence for a grand slam. However, after a strong top of the fifth for Armstrong, they managed to score six runs to take over the lead for good.

Leonard ended the game with two hits, two runs and four RBIs while Alexus Smith and Krista Patterson scored two runs apiece. Rachel Pence (0-1) had a tough showing in her six innings of action, finishing with three strikeouts and allowing 11 runs and eight earned.

Val Silvestrini and the team continue the First Pitch Classic on Saturday with a pair of matchups against Nova Southeastern at 9 a.m. ET and Palm Beach Atlantic at 4:30 p.m. The first of the two games will be played at Nancy Bottge Field, while the second will be under the lights at the nearby campus of Melbourne High School.