ORLANDO, Fla. – Four different Panther programs were represented among this week's Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week honorees, with Florida Tech producing more selections than any other SSC institution.

Jacob Pino – Baseball SSC Pitcher of the Week

He earned second Pitcher of the Week award this season and third in his career after tossing another gem against Sioux Falls on Friday. The Senior from Apokpa, Florida went six scoreless innings and struck out a career high 12 batters. His 12 punchouts were the most by a single pitcher in the conference last week, and he is currently tied for the SSC lead in total strikeouts this season with 45. Of the 18 outs Pino recorded, he was solely responsible for 14 as he added two successful pickoffs top his 12 strikeouts. Pino's dominant outing is just another chapter to his elite start to the season. He currently holds a 4-0 record, a 1.09 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP in 

Miranda Schwartz – Softball SSC Player of the Week

Representing softball, she was a force on the basepaths, helping lead the Panthers to a perfect 6-0 week against Wilmington, Goldey-Beacom, Findlay, and Adelphi. Schwartz finished the week 9-for-15 (.600) while scoring 13 runs, adding a double, a home run, and eight RBI. The senior proved difficult for opposing pitchers to contain, drawing four walks and being hit by a pitch five times to post an impressive .750 on-base percentage. She is the first Panther to win SSC Player of the Week since Mikayla Lewin in 2022.

In two run-rule wins over Wilmington, Schwartz went 2-for-3 at the plate while also drawing three walks and driving in four runs. She followed that performance the next evening by going a perfect 3-for-3 against Goldey-Beacom and crossing the plate three times. On Saturday afternoon, during a sweep of Adelphi, Schwartz recorded three more hits, including a three-run home run that tied the program's career record with her 20th long ball. The homer came in the second game, where she went 1-for-1 while also drawing a walk and being hit by two pitches.

Jax Francisco – Men's Lacross SSC Defensive Player of the Week

Francisco, a redshirt senior from Westminster, Maryland, became the second straight Panther to earn Sunshine State Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors, following teammate Steve Ulrichs, who received the recognition the week prior. He is the first goalie to do so for the Panthers since John Hulsman in 2022. It's also the first time, men's lacrosse has gone back-to-back Defensive Player of the Week since March 26 and April 2, 2018 by Daniel Flock and Gabriel Addison Abramson.

Facing RV Belmont Abbey, Francisco turned in a standout performance, making 11 saves on 31 Crusader shots while allowing just two goals. The effort helped hold Belmont Abbey to the fewest goals scored by an opponent against Florida Tech in program history. Through the 2026 season, Francisco has totaled 68 saves, posting a .581 save percentage with an 8.18 goals-against average, while allowing just 49 goals overall.

Filippo Bessi – Men's Track SSC Sprinter/Hurdles of the Week

Competing in rival territory at the Eagle Invite, Bessi captured the 400-meter hurdles title and helped the 4x400-meter relay team secure another victory, earning SSC Sprinter/Hurdler of the Week honors. The reigning SSC champion in the 400 hurdles finished more than a second ahead of the runner-up, defeating eight other conference competitors with a time of 54.47. He is now the first Panther to win an event in indoor and outdoor track. Bessi also ran the final leg of the Panthers' 4x400 relay team that recorded an NCAA provisional mark with a time of 3:13.80. The performance set a new school record and currently ranks third in Division II while finishing ahead of 10 other SSC relay teams. It marks the first track SSC weekly honor in program history.