MELBOURNE – Florida Tech softball has started to roll as they completed the sweep of Florida Southern as the team won game one, 11-3, in six innings and had a come from behind, 2-1, victory in the final game of the weekend.
Victoria Szrom had a monster day as she went 2/6 with six RBI and a grand slam.
Vanessa Rubio sustained her dominance from Friday, Feb. 14, as she was 2/6 with three RBI, a double and one run.
Jaden Kline tallied the most hits for the Panthers as she had three.
Ten different members of the Crimson & Gray found their way across the plate at some point in the doubleheader and four batted in at least one run.
All three of the Panthers pitchers took the dirt during the day's contests as
Jordan Lawlis saw the most action with five and two-thirds innings of work. During her time, she allowed three runs on five hits with one strikeout and she tallied a win.
Velazquez Rolon had an excellent day in the circle as the Puerto Rican native went five and a third and surrendered no runs on four hits. She tallied five strikeouts and came out of it with a win plus her first save of the season.
Freshman,
Raychel Trocki, did not see as much action as the others but she managed a respectable two-inning outing in which she allowed one run on two hits and sent two back to the pine.
Game one started out the same way as the first of the series as Florida Tech jumped out to an early lead as Szrom hammered her first career grand slam over the center-field fence and made it 4-0 in the bottom of the first. Florida Southern then cut the lead in half as they got back to the plate in the top of the second.
However, Rubio hit a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the second and extended Florida Tech's advantage to 7-2. The Mocs had another run reach safely in the third but their final run of the game.
The Panthers did not stop scoring though as Velazquez Rolon hit a slow grounder to the second baseman that allowed
Mikayla Wessel to score despite Rubio being out at second. The final three runs of game one came in the bottom of the sixth, Szrom single to center field got both
Peyton Anders and
Irene Llorens Ballester home. Then,
Ashlynn Shelley sealed the run-rule victory with a ground out to third base that gave
Jenna Hornsby plenty of time to cross the bag and close out the game, 11-3.
The second game of the afternoon was much more of a pitcher's duel as the final tally was 2-1. The Mocs were the first to strike in this contest as they got their only run in the top of the second.
It took the Panthers to the bottom half of the third to get its first run but it came about in a successful double steal as Kline baited Florida Southern's catcher when she took off for second. As soon as the catcher threw the ball,
Cheyenne Nelson showed off her wheels and beat the tag at home plate and tied it up at 1-1. Two batters later, the Crimson & Gray gained control for good as Velazquez Rolon singled through the right side and this pushed Kline across the plate.
The rest of the final game had a few close calls but neither team got another run across and it ended, 2-1.
Florida Tech now turns its sights to the Tritons of Eckerd as the women will head over to St. Petersburg, Florida. The weekend series will begin with a single game Friday, Feb. 21, with the first pitch set to take place at 6 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.
