MELBOURNE, Fla. - Concluding the midweek outing, Florida Tech (17-13) split the doubleheader against the Caldwell Cougars (3-7) on Wednesday afternoon at the Nancy Bottge Field. After sealing an overwhelming 5-1 win in Game 1, the Panthers struggled to move runners around the bases and eventually fell to the New Jersey squad, 5-0 in Game 2.

Showing absolute dominance inside the circle during Game 1, junior Melanie Murphy (6-5) held the Cougars to one run and four hits over seven innings, recording an outstanding 1.29 ERA. With the win, the Melbourne native now moves up in the SSC leaderboard, conquering fourth place with a seasonal 1.39 ERA over the 80.1 innings that she pitched.

At the plate, Makayla Palmer (2 RBI) and Shanysse Emerenciana (1 RBI) led the Crimson and Gray offense after recording .400 in both batting and slugging. Behind them, Vanessa Rubio and Mikayla Wessel aided the Panthers total, driving in one run apiece in the first event of the day.

During Game 1, the Cougars broke through the score in the top of the second, where they stole home plate to take the lead, 1-0. Fortunately, the Panthers were able to respond in the bottom of the third, when Shanysse Emerenciana and Wessel combined to bring home the tying run for FIT, 1-1.
 
As fourth and fifth went by blank for both dugouts, Florida Tech managed to erase the balance in the sixth with four runs, which came on two singles and a fielder's choice by Emerenciana, Palmer, and Rubio. In the final inning, Murphy tallied her third consecutive win, forcing three quit outs to end the game, 5-1 in favor of FIT.

Opening the score in Game 2 with a solo shot behind the left field fence in the top of the third, the Cougars took an early 1-0 lead over Florida Tech. Continuing to increase its stretch in the top of the fourth, Caldwell managed to post another run on a single through the left side to go ahead by two. Unable to respond offensively, the Panthers struggled to close the gap in the later innings, and in the seventh, the Cougars put the game out of reach with a three-run homer to wrap up the win, 5-0.

Next, FIT will travel to Miami Shores this weekend for an SSC series against the Barry Buccaneers. The series will start on Friday, Mar. 16 at 6 p.m. ET, and conclude on Saturday with a doubleheader.
 
For more info, please visit FloridaTechSports.com!