VIERA, Fla. – Softball looked to find its first win of the year on Day Two of the Florida Tech Invitational. Sadly, today was not the day as Florida Tech dropped two more close ones as they loss 0-2 to Angelo State and 3-5 to No. 4 West Florida.
Cheyenne Nelson led the team in runs as she picked up two, while,
Katrina Hand was the other Panther to cross the plate.
Jaden Kline,
Vanessa Rubio and
Tina Velazquez Rolon all tallied one RBI over the two games.
Tech called upon all three of its pitchers at some point over the two contests.
Jordan Lawlis was the sole pitcher of the Angelo State game and surrendered two runs, none earned, on four hits and sent one back to the dugout on strikes. Velazquez Rolon started the UWF contest where she went 4.1 innings and allowed five runs, three earned, on five hits with three Ks.
Raychel Trocki closed out the day with her 2.2 innings in her relief appearance where she gave up no runs and only two hits.
Florida Tech found itself in a pitcher's duel in its first game of the day. Unfortunately, for the women, they could not manage a run and Angelo State snagged two in the third inning.
The Crimson & Gray opened the game strong with a quick 1-2-3 inning and
Mikayla Wessel tallied a hit and threatened to score but Angelo State worked its way out the jam. The fielders won the second inning. In the third inning, a Panthers' throwing error and a passed ball gave the Rambelles their only two runs of the game.
The rest of the game had each pitcher mow down batters with ease and the game finished 0-2.
Florida Tech struggled at the beginning of game two, as three errors in the first inning put them behind West Florida, 0-2. The pitching controlled the game until the bottom of the fifth when Velazquez Rolon hit a screamer to right field that resulted in a double and a Hand run.
Unfortunately, West Florida bats woke up in the next half inning as they had three runs cross home plate. Tech did snag a run of its own in the bottom half of the fifth when Kline hit into a fielder's choice but an Argos attempt to turn a double play at first allowed Nelson time to cross the bag and make it 2-5.
Florida Tech began to make the Argo sweat in the bottom of the seventh as they started to mount a comeback when Rubio sent a ball to left field and Nelson scored her second run of the game. But, it was not enough as UWF worked its way out of the inning and the game ended with Florida Tech on the wrong end of the 3-5 scoreline.
The Panthers will close out the Florida Tech Invitational Sunday, Feb. 9, with an early morning contest against the West Alabama Tigers. First pitch will take place at 10 a.m. ET at the USSSA Space Coast Complex.
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.
