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:
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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