MELBOURNE, Fla. - Capping off Week 6 of the 2018 season, Florida Tech (14-12, 3-6 SSC) split the series doubleheader against the Embry-Riddle Eagles (17-6, 9-3 SSC) on Saturday afternoon at the Nancy Bottge Field. After dropping a 10-6 decision to ERAU in Game 1, the Panthers battled back in Game 2 with a two-run sixth inning to walk away on top, 2-1.
In the circle, junior
Melanie Murphy (5-5) collected her second consecutive win. In the outing, the Melbourne product racked up four strikeouts and allowed four hits for an impressive 1.29 ERA. After today's performance, Murphy lowers her cumulative ERA to 1.43 and now ties for fourth inside the SSC leaderboard.
Leading the Crimson and Gray lineup,
Makayla Palmer went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI, one double, and an outstanding .750 batting average. With her numbers, the senior now holds a .246 seasonal batting, a .304 slugging percentage, and three RBI.
Also pitching in for the Panthers, left fielder
Jessica Callahan compiled two hits for two RBI on five appearances, which included her double down the left field line during the bottom of the sixth in Game 1. Additionally, the Kissimmee native recorded a .400 batting average and .600 slugging percentage during the afternoon, allowing her to place 10th inside the SSC for slugging percentage with .565.
In Game 1, the Eagles quickly took a 4-0 lead in the first two innings. However, the Crimson and Gray lineup rallied back in the bottom of the second, where a double by Szrom and a single by
Mikayla Wessel, paired with an Eagles error, allowed FIT to score five runs and power past ERAU, 5-4.
In the third, Embry-Riddle went on to tie the game, 5-5 after scoring on a bases-loaded fielder's choice. As the fourth came around, ERAU broke the balance with two runs to take the lead, 7-5, but Florida Tech roared back in the bottom half of the inning when Callahan pushed home one run to close the gap, 7-6. From there, the Eagles collected three more runs in the top of the fifth and held Florida Tech scoreless for the remainder of the game.
During the second game, both dugouts went blank for five consecutive innings, as Murphy and ERAU's pitcher Ilona Andringa combined for solely five hits allowed.
When the sixth came around, Callahan and Palmer joined forces to drive across one run apiece, putting FIT ahead 2-0. Although the Eagles managed to bring in one run to shorten the deficit, three big putouts by the Panthers defense allowed FIT to win, 2-1.
The Panthers head back to Nancy Bottge Field on Monday, Mar. 12 for a non-conference doubleheader against Ursuline College. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. ET.
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