GULF SHORES, Ala. – Florida Tech softball returned to the field on Saturday for more action at the Gulf Shores Invitational. The Crimson and Gray pushed Top-10 North Georgia to the limit in Game One before suffering a walk-off defeat, 4-3. Game Two would see the offense stuck in neutral by West Alabama, 6-0.
GAME ONE:
STATS OF THE GAME:
Final: Florida Tech 3, #8 North Georgia 4
Records: Florida Tech (1-1, 0-0 SSC) | #8 North Georgia (1-1, 0-0 PBC)
Location: Gulf Shores Sportplex | Gulf Shores, Ala.
STATS OF THE GAME:
· The Panthers loaded the bases in the top of the first with one out against Nighthawks starter Caroline Conner, but Haley Rider fouled out, and Alex Hendrian grounded out to end the threat.
· UNG broke the ice in the bottom of the second against Hendrian with a two-run triple off the bat of Rylie Moody. Thanks to Angelina Badalament's RBI single to left, they would tack on another run immediately after.
· Tech would get their breakthrough in the top of the fifth with a run created by Celeste Casillas. The shortstop reached on a one-out infield single, stole second, advanced to third on a Miranda Schwartz flyout, and came home to score on a Rider single.
· The Crimson and Gray drew level in the following frame, which began with Brooklyn Lorenzo's single to short.
· Layna Pollock's pinch-hit sacrifice moved Lorenzo to second, and she then came home to score on an Ella Niles single through the left side.
· After stealing second for her first swipe of the season, Niles would be thrown at the plate following a throwing error that allowed Chloe Fariello to reach third base and score Lorenzo in the process.
· Malaya Nelson's second infield hit of the game allowed Fariello to sprint home and bring Florida Tech even at three.
· The Panthers had the potential winning run at second in the top of the seventh but could not bring pinch runner Jacqleen Golden home.
· The Nighthawks began the bottom of the inning with a Sydnee Reaves leadoff single to left. Reaves then moved to third on a Jenna Miles double.
· After Chloe Poss flew out and Marycille Brumby was intentionally walked to load the bases, Carleigh Knowles' sacrifice fly to right brought home Reaves to give UNG the win.
GAME TWO:
STATS OF THE GAME:
Final: Florida Tech 0, West Alabama 6
Records: Florida Tech (1-2, 0-0 SSC) | West Alabama (2-1, 0-0 GSC)
Location: Gulf Shores Sportplex | Gulf Shores, Ala.
STATS OF THE GAME:
· The Panthers were stifled throughout their second game of the day by Tigers pitcher Eleanor De Block, who fired a complete game four-hit shutout.
· De Block allowed just one Crimson and Gray batter to reach second base all game.
· UWA took the lead almost immediately against Sammy Murphy, with Haley Shannon leading off with a single, promptly stealing second, moving to third on a Taylor Clegg double, and then scoring on a Marissa Mitchell groundout.
· Ann Marie Stanbridge's two-out single made it 2-0 Tigers.
· Stanbridge did the same at the top of the third, this time plating two.
· Mitchell led off the fifth with a single, stole second, advanced on a sacrifice fly by Riley Sullivan, and then scored on a Stanbridge sac fly.
· Clegg's leadoff double in the top of the seventh was rewarded with a Stanbridge sac fly to cap the scoring.
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
· Thanks to her three-for-four effort in Game One, Celeste Casillas' is now hitting .545 for the weekend, along with three stolen bases.
· Hendrian's complete game in Game One was the 40th of her career. She is the first Panther pitcher to reach that milestone since Melanie Murphy fired 46 between 2018-2019.
· Malaya Nelson went three-for-seven over the two games, including her first career multi-hit game in Game One.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
· The Panthers are now 1-3 all-time against North Georgia and 3-5 against West Alabama.
UP NEXT: The Panthers conclude their weekend in Gulf Shores tomorrow with another pair of games. They'll start the day at 9:30 A.M. against West Florida before facing Valdosta State at 11:45 A.M.
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