VIERA, Fla. – Florida Tech softball faced off against the Molloy Lions on Wednesday evening for a doubleheader showcase at USSSA Space Coast Complex. The Panthers were able to come away with two wins against the Lions while Head Coach Val Silvestrini picked up the 400^th win of her career, following game one 3-2 victory over Molloy.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 
GAME ONE:
Final: Florida Tech 3, Molloy 2
Records: Florida Tech (16-10, 6-5 SSC) | Molloy  (2-11, 0-0 ECC)
Location: USSSA Pride Stadium |Viera, Fla.  

STATS OF THE GAME:

• Alex Hendrian started the game in the circle for the Panthers throwing four scoreless innings to start the game.
• Molloy was the first to score as Alex Burns hit a sacrifice fly out to left field scoring Emma Bachmann to give Molloy the 1-0 lead after five full innings.
•  Ella Niles managed to reach base in the top of the sixth on a bunt with one out, before stealing second to give the Panthers a runner in scoring position with Kelly McLaughlin coming to the plate.
•  McLaughlin managed to single to center field advancing Niles to third before she advanced to second on the throw to put runners on second and third with one out for Tech.
• Catcher Jolie Miracle put down the squeeze, scoring Ella Niles on an RBI bunt single while McLaughlin advanced to third.
• Miracle moved up a base after stealing second to put two runners again in scoring position with one out.
• Katie Hogue's sacrifice foul out gave McLaughlin enough space to score from third and advance Miracle to third.
• Mya Ogbodiew's double to left center scored Miracle from third to give the Panthers a 3-1 lead for Tech's final run of the sixth.
• Down two, Molloy's comeback effort was cut short after loading the bases with 0 outs.
• A play from Celeste Casillas to Jolie Miracle saved recorded Tech's first out of the inning as no runs scored.
• The next batter Alex Burns reached on a fielder's choice to score Bachmann making it a 3-2 game with one out and bases loaded.
• Hendrian was able to work her way out of it, getting the final two batters to foul out and pop out to secure the Panther's 3-2 victory.

 
GAME TWO:
Final: Florida Tech 6, Molloy 1
Records: Florida Tech (17-10, 6-5 SSC) | Molloy  (2-12, 0-0 ECC)
Location: USSSA Pride Stadium |Viera, Fla.  
 
STATS OF THE GAME:

• Ella Niles would take the circle for game two of the series as she tossed three scoreless innings to start the game.
• 0-0 in the bottom of the third, Celeste Casillas would start the inning for the Panthers by reaching first on an error.
• Following at-bats from Niles and McLaughlin, Casillas found herself on third with two before Miracle would drive in the shortstop for Tech's first run of the game to take a 1-0 lead.
• In the top half of the fourth, Steph Conrade of Molloy reached third on a triple and later scored the Lion's first and only run of the game.
• The bottom of the fifth saw Tech put up four more runs as Mclaughlin drove in Niles and Casillas on a double to left, and Katie Hogue drove in McLaughlin from third on a single to the shortstop.
• With a 4-1 lead, Miracle on third and Hogue on first, Miracle and Hogue both looked to steal a base with Miracle successfully stealing home to give the Panthers a 5-1 lead before the side was retired.
• Tech's final run came as Kathryn Sexton scored from second on a single to left by Casillas.
• Neither team would score for the remainder of the game as the Panthers recorded the game two 6-1 win.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• With the Panther's 3-2 win in game one of the doubleheader, Head Coach Val Silvestrini recorded the 400^th win of her career.
• Jolie Miracle hit .667 (four-for-six) against the Lions with one double and two RBI's.
• Alex Hendrian improves to 10-6 after throwing her NCAA Leading 15^th complete game of the season allowing two runs against eight hits and 32 batters faced throwing a total of 76 pitches through 7.0 innings.
• Ella Niles moves to 5-4, picking up the complete game win in game two against Molloy. Niles finished allowing one and just four hits while throwing 62 pitches in 7.0 innings against 27 batters faced.
• With a stolen base in game one, Niles becomes the ninth player in program history with 40 career steals.  

 
UP NEXT: The Panthers will hit the road on Friday for a Sunshine State Conference Weekend series against the Saint Leo Lions. Game one between Florida Tech and Saint Leo with take place on Friday, March 15^th with the first pitch scheduled to be thrown out a 6:00 PM. 

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