MELBOURNE, Fla. – Despite Florida Tech softball keeping it a two-run game until the sixth, Tampa's offense found its footing in the final two innings in a 9-0 Spartan win.
STATS OF THE GAME:
Final: Florida Tech 0, Tampa 9
Records: Florida Tech (24-17, 13-12 SSC) | Tampa (33-6, 15-4 SSC)
Location: Nancy Bottge Field | Melbourne, Fla.
STATS OF THE GAME:
- Ella Niles induced five straight groundballs, then finished with a strikeout in the first two innings.
- The first baserunner was Panthers' Katie Hogue as she walked in the bottom of the second with zero outs.
- The first hit came two batters later with a Miranda Schwartz bloop single into left field.
- However, Tampa's pitcher, Kate Desimone, finished the inning, striking out the final two batters.
- Tampa brought the momentum to the third; Megan Chevalier smashed a solo shot over the centerfield wall, giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead.
- After the home run, Celeste Casillas worked hard at shortstop, grabbing two assists on groundballs and a putout catching a ball in foul territory.
- The Spartans put up another run in the fourth off an infield double and a single to left field.
- Three straight innings with a run, Tampa brought home another in the fifth with two singles and a sacrifice fly.
- Jillian Moeller broke the silence with a hit in the bottom of the fifth but did not come around to score.
- Mariah Galhouse blew the game open with a three-run shot, increasing the Tampa lead to six.
- Start the sixth with two straight singles by Casillas and Kelly McLaughlin. Unfortunately, Tampa worked a lineout double play to get out of the inning.
- In the seventh, Katie Sexton makes a huge catch in left field to get the first out.
- Despite the nice, Tampa's Galhouse hit her second three-run homerun to extend the score to 9-0.
- The Panthers forced a double play, hoping, but could not get on the board in the final inning.
- Moeller did pick up one more hit to have her fourth multi-hit game of the season.
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
- Jillian Moeller went 2-for-3 for her fourth multi-hit game of the season.
- Casillas tallied one hit but was huge for the Panthers in the field, recording six assists and two putouts and turning a double play.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- The Panthers now move to an all-time 52-75 against Tampa
- Spartans have won the past six series between the teams (15-3 over that span) with the Panthers' last series victory coming on February 19-20, 2016.
- Tech is 27-34 at home vs. Tampa all-time.
UP NEXT: The Panthers finish their final home series in a Senior Day doubleheader on Saturday, starting the first game at noon.
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