BOCA RATON, Fla. (Softball) - During a windy day on the road, Florida Tech (25-24, SSC 11-11) took home Game 1 of the last SSC series for the 2017 season. The Panthers motored past the Fighting Knights 8-3 in a late rally that ended during the very last at bats.
In the box, four different Panthers players combined to collect six of the 12 total hits. Within the lineup,
Hailey Leonard,
Alexus Smith,
Makayla Palmer and
Kaitlin Buchholz recorded one double apiece, while
Krista Patterson recorded her fourth seasonal home run.
In the circle,
Rachel Pence (18-15) pitched her 22 complete game, gaining her 18th win on seven strikeouts, no walks and only three runs.
The game started with both dugouts battling hard, as both squads left multiple runners hanging in the first and second. In the top of the third, the FIT bats struck first with Smith driving Leonard home on a single behind third. After a short lead, Lynn answered back, jumping ahead of the Panthers, 2-1.
In the fifth, the Crimson and Gray tied the game with back-to-back doubles by Smith and Palmer, while Patterson blasted the go-ahead run for Florida Tech with a two-run home run behind the left field fence. However, the Knights fought back and closed the gap during the home half, 4-3.
The Panthers increased the margin again in the sixth, where Patterson and Leonard joined forces during a double steal, forcing the Lynn catcher into a troubled throw to second that allowed Leonard to reach home safe.
Forwarding their momentum from the sixth, the Panthers put three more runs on the board in the last inning. To open the frame,
Vanessa Rubio reached first on a bunt to the Knights pitcher, and then continued her advancement by stealing second. Up next,
Julianna Goldberg took a free base, but found herself crossing home plate after Buchholz cleared the bases with a double down the left field line. The FIT center fielder was then pushed home by her fellow teammate Leonard, who brought in the final run for the Panthers.
With a five-run lead, Pence fastened the 11th SSC win for Florida Tech, as the Jacksonville native ended the last offensive frame for Lynn with three quick outs.
The Panthers will be back on the diamond tomorrow for the series doubleheader against Lynn. The first game is set for 1 p.m. ET. Fans can access live coverage of the event at FloridaTechSports.com!
