MELBOURNE, Fla. (Softball) - The Florida Tech offense came alive early in the bottom of the first during Friday's game against Palm Beach Atlantic, as FIT defeated the Sailfish 8-1 at Nancy Bottge Field.
 
The Panthers (15-16) had six hits, of which three were extra base. Sophomore Alexus Smith ended the match collecting 2 RBI on a 2-for-4 performance at the plate, while senior Karina Suicava and freshman Julianna Goldberg recorded a two-run home run apiece.

Defensively, the Crimson and Gray obtained 18 putouts and seven assists, increasing the seasonal fielding percentage to .950.
 
In the circle, senior Rachel Pence struck out seven to win her tenth of the season. She allowed one run and three hits with one walk in seven innings. Pence had 1-2-3 frames in the third, fourth and seventh.
 
Florida Tech drew first blood in its first at-bat, as an RBI single by Krista Patterson drove home Smith, who reached base on a lead-off double to the center field. With Patterson at second, Goldberg blasted a two RBI bomb to deep left center, putting the Panthers ahead, 3-0.

After two scoreless innings, the Crimson and Gray snatched three more runs at the bottom of the fourth. Goldberg opened up the home half with a walk and Rachel Kraak entered the game as pinch-runner for her fellow teammate.

Vanessa Rubio was then hit by a pitch and the two runners completed at double steal, which resulted in another run for the Panthers due to a throwing error by the Palm Beach Atlantic catcher.

Center fielder Kaitlin Buchholz stepped to the plate and pushed Rubio to third dropping a sac-bunt. With runner at the thirdbase corner, Suicava banged a home run behind the left field fence, increasing the Panthers lead, 6-0.

Eventually, the Sailfish scored one run in the top of the sixth, but the Panthers answered back with no mercy, tacking two more runs as Smith flared a two RBI single to the left field.  

In the top of the seventh, Pence sealed the deal for Florida Tech with mastery, ending the match with an overpowering victory, 8-1.

The Panthers are back in action tomorrow, Mar. 18 at the Nancy Bottge Field to complete the series doubleheader against Palm Beach Atlantic. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m., fans can access live coverage at FloridaTechSports.com/live.