MELBOURNE, Fla. – Florida Tech softball finished out the Florida Tech Softball Classic with another 1-1 day as they fell to No. 6 Angelo State, 4-3. But later in the day they took down Barry, 9-2.
Game one had
Tina Velazquez Rolon take the mound to start the game but was eventually turned over to
Melanie Murphy (0-2) in the third inning. Both pitched well as they combined for eight hits, four runs and nine strikeouts.
Velazquez Rolon also found success at the plate as she brought in the first run of the game.
Angelo State then answer backed in the top of the fourth off a single that scored two. But Florida Tech would retake the lead, 3-2, off a
Vanessa Rubio single that scored
Melinda Rule and
Xiarysse Emerenciana.
However, a two-run homerun in the top of the ninth gave ASU the 4-3 win as the Panthers could not answer in the bottom half of the inning.
Jordan Lawlis (2-0) was the first pitcher for Tech in game two as she went for four innings. During her time she gave up two runs on six hits. Velazquez Rolon (1 save) was then tasked with holding onto the lead over the finally three innings. She was successful as she did not allow a run and gave up two hits and tossed out five.
Barry got out to the early lead as a top of the first run made it 1-0 when the Panthers took the plate first. But this would be the only time Barry led as three runs by Florida Tech came in the bottom of the first.
The Crimson and Gray tacked on another run in the bottom of the second when
Cheyenne Nelson sent a shot to left center field that scored
Xiarysse Emerenciana.
The Buccaneers made it 4-2 in the forth as a bunt scored Taylor Checkley. This would be the final run for the Bucs as the Panther shut them down for the rest of the game.
The final five runs for Florida Tech came in the fifth and sixth innings. First was a Nelson run that scored off a BU error. The final four came in the sixth as the Panthers' Nelson scored
Xiarysse Emerenciana. Nelson was not on the base path long as a Velazquez Rolon homer to right center scored them both.
The final run came off when
Peyton Anders crossed the plate when she combined with
Ally Carver for a successful double steal attempt. This made the final tally of the Florida Tech Softball Classic, 9-2.
The Panthers will be back in action Friday, Feb. 8, when they take on Lee in their first game of the NFCA Division II Leadoff Classic. This neutral site game is taking place in Clearwater, Florida, with first pitch at noon ET. The team will also take on West Florida, Feb. 8, at 4:30 p.m. ET.
For the latest news, updates and information on the Florida Tech softball team, visit FloridaTechSports.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Panthers news by following Florida Tech Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
