MELBOURNE, Fla. – Florida Tech welcomed Florida Southern to Nancy Bottge Field on Friday to open conference play. The Panthers saw success in game one, clinching a 3-2 win before a grand slam in game two would hand Tech a 10-2 loss.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 
GAME ONE:
Final: Florida Tech 3, Florida Southern 2
Records: Florida Tech (8-3, 1-0 SSC) | Florida Southern (3-5, 0-1 SSC)
Location: Nancy Bottge Field | Melbourne, Fla.  


STATS OF THE GAME:

• The Panthers got in scoring position right off the bat as lead-off Ella Niles singled, followed by a bunt by Kelly McLaughlin.
• Two batters later, Katie Hogue singled to the left side to send Niles home.
• Tech threatened again in the bottom of the second with bases loaded and two outs. Hogue grounded out to end the inning and stay at a 1-0 lead.
• The fourth inning saw each team plate two.
• FSC started the top of the fourth with a walk. Back-to-back singles would then load the bases.
• Kelly Keating blasted one to center field to give the Mocs their first run.
• The next batter up would walk with bases loaded to give the Mocs a 2-1 lead.
• The final two Mocs recorded pop-ups to end the top of the fourth.
• Niles singled to third on a bunt and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
• Two batters later, Jolie Miracle singled up the middle. Niles beat the throw to home to tie it up.
• After Hogue singled and sent Miracle to third, Ella Torres of FSC threw back-to-back walks to plate Miracle and give Tech back the lead, 3-2.
• Alex Hendrian retired the side in the top of the fifth, while Tech saw one reach base on a walk in the bottom of the fifth.
• Mocs had the game-tying run on base in the top of the sixth but were unable to capitalize.
• Hendrian once again retired the side in the top of the seventh to end the game.
• Hendrian tossed her sixth complete game of the season, striking out one and walking two.

GAME TWO:
Final: Florida Tech 2, Florida Southern 10
Records: Florida Tech (8-4, 1-1 SSC), Florida Southern (4-5, 1-1 SSC)
Location: Nancy Bottge Field | Melbourne, Fla.  


STATS OF THE GAME:

• After two scoreless innings, the Panthers would get the first run thanks to a Jolie Miracle single that sent Celeste Casillas home.
• FSC responded in the top of the fourth, with KiKi Morris getting on base on a single followed by a walk to put the Mocs in scoring position.
• Taylor Thomas's sacrifice bunt pushed Morris to third.
• Two batters later, a throwing error on the Panthers allowed for Morris to reach home.
• Kathryn Sexton was the lone hit for the Panthers in the bottom of the fourth with a double to right center.
• Casillas doubled to left center to start the bottom of the fifth.
• Niles followed with a sacrifice bunt to push Casillas to third.
• Kelly McLaughlin's single to shortstop sent Casillas home to tie it up, 2-2.
• The Mocs ended the inning on a double play.
• The Mocs broke through in the sixth inning, plating seven.
• A single, followed by a double put two Mocs in scoring position right off the bat.
• A Panther error allowed for one runner to score.
• The next batter, Kelly Keating, slapped one straight to third base where Katie Hogue tagged out the runner to put one away.
• A single to left field sent one runner home before a walk loaded the bases.
• Thomas blasted a ball over the center field fence for the grand slam and extended the Mocs lead to 9-2.
• FSC plated one more in the top of the seventh on a single.
• A walk put one Panther on bases in the bottom of the seventh before FSC retired three straight.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• The Panthers' all-time series with Florida Southern now stands at 36-98.
• Celeste Casillas, Kelly McLaughlin, and Jolie Miracle each have a three-game hitting streak.
• Kathryn Sexton extends her on-base streak to six games, while Kelly McLaughlin reaches four games.
• Casillas recorded her third double of the season.

UP NEXT: The Panthers will look to take the series against Florida Southern on Saturday, Feb 17. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.
 
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