MELBOURNE, Fla. – Florida Tech softball bagged the final game of the series against the 22
nd-ranked Rollins Tars, 5-4.
Celeste Casillas sprinted from second on a wild pitch and slid into home, walking the game off in the bottom of the seventh.
STATS OF THE GAME:
Final: Florida Tech 5, Rollins 4
Records: Florida Tech (19-15, 8-10 SSC) | Saint Leo (27-7, 10-5 SSC)
Location: Nancy Bottge Field | Melbourne, Fla.
STATS OF THE GAME:
- Other than the three hit-by-pitches in the first three innings, Alex Hendrian shut down the rest of the nine batters, including two by strikeouts.
- For the second game in the series, Jolie Miracle registered the Panthers' first hit in the bottom of the first.
- Despite giving up a hit in the first inning, Rollins' Ashley Morrell worked through the next seven batters, four by strikeout.
- Morrell tallied the first Rollins' hit in the top of the fourth with a shot up the middle.
- Rollins would later score by the bat of Sarah Young, who put the ball in the left-field gap for a double, scoring pinch runner Jodee Matos.
- The Tars tacked on another run two batters later with a single in right field from Marisa Edevane.
- Florida Tech immediately tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Mya Ogbodiewgu doubled to the right-field gap, bringing home Kelly McLaughlin and Katie Hogue, who got on via error.
- Kelly McLaughlin's bloop single down the third base line gave the Panthers the lead in the fifth, which was set up by a single by Sammy Shortal.
- Mandy Schwartz extended the Panthers 4-2, crushing a solo shot over the left fence.
- Needing runs, Brie Michelli tallied a leadoff single, which was later brought home by a T. Waters single up the middle.
- Later in the seventh, McLaughlin couldn't handle a ball from Taylor Hartman, giving Waters the opportunity to tie the game at four apiece.
- In the bottom of the seventh, Celeste Casillas singled up the middle and advanced to second.
- Casillas sprinted from second to home on a wild pitch from Morrell, guiding the Panthers to a win over No. 22 Rollins
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
- Schwartz moved into the team lead in home runs with her fifth of the season.
- Ogbodiewgu drove in her 22nd and 23rd RBI of the season, which is the most on the team.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- The Panthers now move to an all-time 61-59 against Rollins.
- Alex Hendrian tossed her NCAA-leading 19th complete game of the season.
- Florida Tech is 23-32 at home against Rollins since 1991
- Florida Tech notched their second win over a ranked team this season.
UP NEXT: The Panthers remain at home for a three-game series against Embry-Riddle University, beginning with a doubleheader on Thursday at 3 and 5 p.m. ET.
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