MELBOURNE, Fla. – It was a beautiful afternoon for softball as No. 12 Florida Tech looked to complete the sweep of Barry. The Panthers succeed in their goal as they won game one of the doubleheader, 6-5 and dominated game two, 13-2.
Vanessa Rubio continued her hot streak as tallied a
.429 batting average as she went 3-7 with two runs, two RBIs, one double and hit her first home run of the season.
Cheyenne Nelson (3-6, two runs, four RBIs and a walk) and
Katie Maiello (2-4, two runs, one RBI and one base on balls) both recorded a .500 BA.
Melanie Murphy (13-5) started her second straight game and despite early struggles put together a respectable showing. The senior recorded her 11
th complete game of the season in a five run, six hit effort. Murphy also tossed out seven of the 32 batters she faced during the contest.
The Bucs jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first that forced the Crimson and Gray to play from behind. Florida Tech was not deterred though as the team slowly worked their way back into the contest.
The Panthers grabbed their first runs of the afternoon in the bottom of the second when Nelson singled through the right side that allowed both
Shanysse Emerenciana and
Ashley Campbell to cross the plate.
Tech would tie it at 3-3 in its next go around off a Kline single that scored Lexi Betterman. The team garnered its first lead of the day in the bottom of the fourth when a bases-loaded walk of
Tina Velazquez Rolon pushed Maiello home.
A wild pitch that scored Nelson pushed the Panthers advance to 5-3 and a Kline slow roller which allowed
Xiarysse Emerenciana trot over home plate for the team's final run of game one.
Barry did tack on two more runs, one in the sixth and another in the seventh, which made the final score, 6-5. This gave Florida Tech the series win as they looked to finish the sweep in the second and final game of the night.
Game two saw Velazquez Rolon (9-2) in the circle for the start of the contest. The transfer went for four innings and surrendered two runs, one earned, on three hits and struck out six.
Jordan Lawlis came into close out the contest and had a perfect inning.
Just like game one, Barry drew first blood this time in the top of the second. However, their lead did not last long as Tech logged nine runs in the bottom half of the inning.
The Crimson and Gray kicked off its nine-run onslaught with Maiello's fielder choice that sent Kline home. The team scored two more runs in its next at-bat when Nelson singled through the left side which allowed Shanysse and
Mikayla Wessel to both cross home plate. A passed ball tacked on the team's fourth run of the game.
Barry's mistakes continued to play in the Panthers favor as a throwing error by the third baseman scored Nelson and allowed Xiarysse to make it to third base after what would have been a routine out at first.
X. Emerenciana then capitalized on another Barry miscue as a wild pitch allowed her to make it 6-1. Another error by the Bucs gave the Panthers two more runs courtesy of Velazquez Rolon and Rubio. The trend continued in Tech's final run of the second as a muffed throw by the shortstop allowed Kline over the bag to make it 9-1.
Florida Tech did allow another Buccaneers run in the top of the third but it did not slow down Tech's momentum as they tallied four more runs in the bottom of the inning.
Xiarysse Emerenciana got the first RBI off a single up the middle that scored Betterman. A deep double by Velazquez Rolon would be home Xiarysse.
But the highlight of the afternoon came when Rubio sent a ball well over the center-field fence for her first home run of the season. This brought the final score of the contest to 13-2.
Florida Tech will take the night to enjoy the sweep of Barry but will refocus quickly as the women turn their attention to Flagler College. The Panthers are set to take on the Saints Wednesday, March 27, at 5 p.m. This showdown set in St. Augustine, Florida, is a rematch of an earlier contest that Florida Tech won, 6-1.
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.
