SAINT LEO, Fla. - Capping off the first conference series for the 2018 season, Florida Tech (7-10, SSC 0-3) dropped to No.10 Saint Leo during the Saturday afternoon doubleheader at University Softball Stadium. In the first game, the Lions routed the Panthers 7-4, while FIT dropped in Game 2, 3-1 to the nationally ranked conference opponent.
In the box, veteran
Jessica Callahan led the Crimson and Gray offense with a 3-for-5 performance and tallied two RBI. Aiding the FIT line up, freshman
Mikayla Wessel and sophomore
Alexus Smith recorded two hits apiece, which included one RBI by Wessel and a double by Smith. Also pitching in with two hits, junior
Xiarysse Emerenciana ended the day batting in one RBI for Panthers lineup.
In the circle, senior Amanda Khan (0-2) allotted solely four hits to the 20 batters faced in the five innings pitched. In the second game, junior
Melanie Murphy (3-5) suffered her fifth loss of the season, allowing six hits in six innings.
In Game 1of the doubleheader, the Lions burst in the bottom of the first with a six-run frame to overlap Florida Tech, 6-0. However, the Panthers found success of their own in the top of the second, where they reduced the deficit by two after bringing in four runs on one hit and two defensive errors by Saint Leo.
After two consecutive blank innings, an unfortunate breakthrough saw the Lions takin another run to increase their stretch, 7-4. For the remainder of the game, FIT struggled to move its runners on the bases and eventually fell to the SLU, 7-4.
Moving into the second game, the Panthers reached the scoreboard in the top of the third on a Callahan single to the left field, which pushed Wessel home to put Florida Tech ahead, 1-0. However, the Lions widened the gap in the bottom of the third with a three-run homer by Bethany Kursch. Behind by two, the Panthers would try to erase the deficit, but found themselves unable to fill the gap, falling 3-1 to the Lions.
Next up, FIT will return to Nancy Bottge Field and host the Tampa Spartans. The first game of the series is set for Friday, Mar. 2 at 2 p.m. ET.
For live coverage of the event, please visit FloridaTechSports.com.
