ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Katie Hogue's first-inning two-run home run put Florida Tech in front, and they never gave up the lead in a 5-2 victory in the series-opening game against Eckerd. Hogue finished going 2-for-4 and driving in three RBI.

STATS OF THE GAME:
Final: Florida Tech 5, Eckerd 2
Records: Florida Tech (22-19, 11-11 SSC) | Eckerd (11-20, 5-11 SSC)
Location: Turley Athletic Complex | St. Petersburg, Fla.  
 
STATS OF THE GAME:

• From the jump, Hogue drilled a ball over the left field wall, bringing home the first two runs, with Ella Nile getting hit by a pitch to lead off.
• Celeste Casillas and Kelly McLaughlin singled in the top of the second and third, respectively.
• Ella Niles allowed one hit in the first two innings, continuing her shutout streak to 14 innings.
• Eckerd responded with one run in the bottom of the third as Megan Diaz ground out brought Ella Coiner home.
• The Panthers got the run back immediately in the next half-inning. Mya Ogbodiewgu singled to lead off and later scored on a Sammy Shortal lineout.
• Eckerd strung three singles together at the bottom of the fourth to make the score a one-run difference again at 3-2.
• Every time the Tritons scored, the Panthers responded. In the top of the fifth, McLaughlin singled again, batting 1.000 on the day, and Jolie Miracle doubled to put two runners in scoring position.
• Hogue delivered with a single to right field and, helped by an error, both runners scored.
• The score would remain at 5-2 as Niles allowed just two hits in the final three innings. In the last two, she dropped all three batters she faced.

 
NOTABLE PANTHERS:

• Nile extended has allowed just two runs, one earned, in her last 19 innings, improving her ERA to 3.03 on the year.
• McLaughlin went 2-for-2 with a walk. The senior also came around to score twice, tying the team lead with 21 total.
• Hogue increased her team-leading batting average to .339 after going 3-for-4 with three RBI. She now leads the team with 25 RBI on the season and is tied for second with five home runs.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• The Panthers now move to an all-time 89-36 against Eckerd.
• Panthers have won eight of the past ten series and 10 of 12 games between the two since 2019.
• Florida Tech is 36-19 at Eckerd since 1991.

 
UP NEXT: The Panthers finishes the series at Eckerd in a doubleheader on Saturday, starting the first game at noon.
 
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