GULF SHORES, Ala. – Despite dropping their opening game 5-3 in extras against No; 12 Auburn-Montgomery, Tech bounced back taking down Delta State and No.18 Roger State. The top of the lineup, 1-5, dominated in three games and led the way for the Panthers with 23 hits, 10 RBI, and two home runs.
GAME ONE:
STATS OF THE GAME:
Final: Florida Tech 3, No. 12 Auburn-Montgomery 5
Records: Florida Tech (0-1, 0-0 SSC) | Auburn-Montgomery (1-0, 0-0 GSC)
Location: Gulf Shores Sportplex | Gulf Shores, Ala.
STATS OF THE GAME:
- The first Eagles batter struck the ball past the Panthers pitcher. Two batters later, AUM took the 2-0 lead on a dinger to left field.
- In the bottom of the first inning, Ella Niles ripped a double for her second career extra base hit to start of senior season. However, she was left on base, keeping it a 2-0 game.
- The next two innings saw both offenses tally one hit. Sammy Murphy struck out two during this span.
- Tech cut the deficit in half when Kate Rodel singled to left center, bringing home Haley Rider in the fourth.
- The Eagles got hits in both the fifth and sixth, but Murphy worked out of both innings.
- Rider set up Rodel again with a single and help from a Malaya Nelson single and steal, putting runners on second and third. Rodel answered the call again, tying the game at two apiece.
- Two costly errors by the Panthers allowed the Eagles to score three runs in the eighth.
- Tech got one back on a wild pitch but ultimately fell 5-3.
GAME TWO:
STATS OF THE GAME:
Final: Florida Tech 8, Delta State 3
Records: Florida Tech (1-1, 0-0 SSC) | Delta State (0-2, 0-0 GSC)
Location: Gulf Shores Sportplex | Gulf Shores, Ala.
STATS OF THE GAME:
- Niles led off with a single and later sprinted home off a Rider triple for the 1-0 early lead.
- Chloe Fariello forced Delta State into three ground balls in the first.
- In the second, the defense pulled a 6-3-2 double play, getting the runner on third out at home plate.
- The defensive play was huge as Tech immediately scored off back-to-back doubles from Miranda Schwartz and Emma Chisholm.
- Delta State recorded two hits and capitalized on a Tech error to tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third.
- Despite two hits from Niles and Nelson for Tech and two hits from Delta State, neither team scored in the fourth.
- Tech doubled the score in the fifth as Schwartz and Chisholm registered two consecutive hits again. Schwartz singled and Chisholm blasted the Panthers first dinger of the season.
- The Fighting Okras closed the gap in the following half inning on a sacrifice fly.
- Fariello stepped out of the circle and into the box for a triple into left field. Tech added another run when Nelson single over the center fielder's head.
- Chisholm, Niles and Mia Terito singled in the seventh, helping the Panthers expand their lead by three runs to bury Delta State 8-3.
GAME THREE:
STATS OF THE GAME:
Final: Florida Tech 3, No. 18 Rogers State 2
Records: Florida Tech (2-1, 0-0 SSC) | Rogers State (1-2, 0-0 MIAA)
Location: Gulf Shores Sportplex | Gulf Shores, Ala.
STATS OF THE GAME:
- Kelsey Hahn pitched a memorable game, starting with two swinging strikeouts despite giving up a leadoff single.
- Niles reached on an error then stole second before coming home on Schwartz single to right center for the 1-0 edge.
- Rogers State tied the game on another leadoff hit then an outfield error by the Panthers.
- Tech responded the next half inning with a two-run shot over the left field wall by Schwartz, bringing home her senior teammate Niles.
- Hahn gave up a hit in the next two innings but got out of the inning. She then struck out two more in the sixth, keeping a Panthers' two-run advantage.
- In the seventh inning, Hahn worked around a double and a single, retiring the first, third, and fifth hitters with a lineout, a groundout, and a popout to close the frame.
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
- Sophomore Malaya Nelson hit 6-for-11 (.545) on opening day
- Ella Niles also tallied six hits on 13 at-bats and two RBI
- Emma Chisholm and Miranda Schwartz smoked home runs as one of their four hits.
- Kate Rodel doubled her career RBI total in the first game against No. 12 Auburn-Montgomery with two.
- Kelsey Hahn pitched her first career complete game and struck out six batters and allowed one earned run against No. 18 Roger State.
- Sammy Murphy went eight innings and registered seven strikeouts.
- Julianna Hynes recorded her first career save to seal the Panthers first win of the 2026 season.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- The Panthers are 2-4 all-time against AUM.
- Fourth consecutive season teams have met with every prior meeting also being at a neutral site. This will be the second in Gulf Shores.
- The Panthers are 10-7 in season opening games under Val Silvestrini.
- Tech moved to 4-2 against Delta State.
- First meeting between teams since a doubleheader on February 10, 2007, in Pensacola, FL.
- It marked the first time Tech and Rogers State played against each other with the Panthers earning the first victory.
UP NEXT: The Panthers take Saturday off before playing No. 6 North Georgia and West Alabama on Sunday in Gulf Shores.
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