DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Both Florida Tech softball games ended as one-run contests. The Panthers took game one 2-1 for their second win over Newberry. Embry-Riddle walks the game off in a 5-4 extra-inning thriller in the following game.
GAME ONE:
STATS OF THE GAME:
Final: Florida Tech 2, Newberry 1
Records: Florida Tech (4-4, 0-0 SSC) | Newberry (1-8, 0-0 SAC)
Location: Radiology Associates Field | Daytona Beach, Fla.
STATS OF THE GAME:
- The Panthers hit three groundouts to begin the game, opening the chance for Newberry to take the 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first.
- Newberry's lead didn't last long as Tech capitalized on two walks with a Layna Polluck single to right field, bringing home Miranda Schwartz.
- Sammy Murphy shook the first inning off and dealt two swinging strikeouts in the second inning.
- In the fifth inning, the Panthers knocked on the door with runners on second and third with two singles and three stolen bases. However, a groundout prevented any runs from crossing home plate.
- Tech scored the winning run in the eventful sixth inning. Chloe Fariello singled and stole second base.
- After Fariello moved to third on a Schwartz hit, Julianna pushed her across by drilling a ball to left field.
- Murphy shut down the Wolves offense in the final two innings to secure the 2-1 victory.
GAME TWO:
STATS OF THE GAME:
Final: Florida Tech 4, Embry-Riddle 5
Records: Florida Tech (4-5, 0-0 SSC) | Embry-Riddle (5-1, 0-0 SSC)
Location: Radiology Associates Field | Daytona Beach, Fla.
STATS OF THE GAME:
- The Panthers did not wait long to make an offensive impact. Leadoff batter Ella Niles poked the ball up the middle, followed by stealing second.
- It did not matter that Niles was in scoring position because Celeste Casillas smashed her first home run of the season and second of her career, giving the team a 2-0 lead.
- With the cushion, Alex Hendrian felt comfortable getting three outs in the bottom of the first inning.
- However, Embry-Riddle found their offense in the second, recording three hits and tying the score at two apiece.
- Tech immediately retook the lead in the third off two Eagles fielding errors following a hit by Malaya Nelson.
- The Eagles responded with a leadoff double, a single, and a steal for two runners in scoring position. A sacrifice fly and bunt plated two runs for the Eagles' first lead of the game.
- The Crimson and Gray quickly fired back with stellar base running. First, Fariello made her way to second on a ball hit to the shortstop and a steal. Once Niles smacked her second hit, Fariello made her way home with the help of a defensive error, tying the game at 4-4.
- It was a pitching duel between Hendrian and Eagles' Mallory Kinahan from the fifth to the ninth inning.
- Her defense helped Hendrian with multiple line drives caught by Schwartz and Fariella at the corners. Niles also made a diving catch in center field to keep the Panthers alive.
- Embry-Riddle finally got through in the bottom of the ninth as the Eagles' Mattea Martin doubled to the left field gap for the walk-off 5-4 win.
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
- Ella Niles had a stellar day two, going 4-for-8, including tying a career-high three-hit game against Embry-Riddle. She also added four steals to her season total.
- Celeste Casillas cracked her second career dinger in the game against the Eagles and drove in three RBI.
- Jacqleen Golden earned her first two career steals.
- Alex Hendrian pitched her longest career outing of 8.1 innings.
- Sammy Murphy earned her fourth complete game, allowing four hits and one run while adding three more strikeouts.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Tech moved to 4-0 against Newberry, defeating the Wolves twice in the last two days.
- The Panthers are 14-11 against Embry-Riddle. Saturday's game marked the first non-conference meeting between the teams since March 9, 2013.
- Audrey Gurule started her first career game against Embry-Riddle.
- Miranda Schwartz is leading the team in batting average at .381.
UP NEXT: The Panthers play their first home games of the 2025 campaign, hosting Palm Beach Atlantic in a three-game series, starting on Friday, February 14. The Valentine's Day game will begin at 6 p.m. Et.
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