MELBOURNE, Fla. – Florida Tech kicked off its spring break slate of games with a midweek doubleheader against Wilmington (Del.). Tech swept the Wildcat as they won game one, 4-3, in nine innings and followed that with an 8-0 victory.
 
Tina Velazquez Rolon (7-0) was the first Panther to take the mound as she was tabbed the starter for game one. The standout transfer pitched the entire nine innings during which she surrendered three runs, two earned, on five hits. She also turned in her first double-digit strikeout performance of the season with 11.
 
The game did not start out in Tech's favor as they gave up a run in the top half of the first inning. The Wildcats then made it 2-0 as they scored another run in the top of the third.
 
Florida Tech halted Wilmington's momentum in the bottom of the fifth when Shanysse Emerenciana sent a screamer down the left-field line that scored Victoria Szrom. The team then tied it in the next inning as Jaden Kline singled which pushed Rachel Kraak across the bag.
 
This score stayed 2-2 through the seventh which led us into extras. Wilmington then tacked on its third run with a double in the top of the eighth. The Crimson and Gray answered in the bottom half of the inning as the Emerenciana twins teamed up to extend the game to the ninth.
 
Tech shut down the Wildcats in the top half of the ninth and then in the teams turn at the plate Jaden Kline hit a walk-off single to seal the teams win, 4-3.
 
Game two had Panthers' ace Melanie Murphy (7-4) in the circle. The hometown product tossed another complete game, her sixth of the season, and her second one that was a shutout. During her five innings of work she allowed only two hits and struck out five.
 
The second game began with a feeling that it would be a pitcher's duel as the first two innings were scoreless. However, that all changed in the third when Florida Tech's bats began to heat up.
 
Makayla Wessel was the first Panther to cross home plate as she scored off a Wildcats error. The team then added a second run in the bottom of the third when Velazquez Rolon singled up the middle and scored Xiarysse Emerenciana.
 
The fourth saw another run score for the Crimson and Gray as a single by Cheyenne Nelson gave Wessel her second run of the afternoon. This made the score 3-0 as the game headed into the fifth.
 
The bottom of the fifth started off with a bang as Velazquez Rolon went yard for the fourth time season. This solo homer opened the flood gates for what would be a five-run inning. Singles by Alexus Smith, Wessel and Nelson brought in the final four runs of the game.
 
Florida Tech will look to carry this momentum into its next doubleheader when the team takes on Lander. The doubleheader is set to take place Wednesday, March 6, with game one to begin at 1 p.m. ET.
 
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