MELBOURNE, Fla. – Florida Tech softball rode strong pitching and a pair of big swings to a 4–1 win over Rollins. The Panthers stayed in control from start to finish, breaking it open late while holding Rollins in check all game.

GAME ONE:
STATS OF THE GAME:
Final:  RV Florida Tech 4, Rollins 1
Records: Florida Tech (25-9-1, 11-4 SSC) | Rollins (20-11, 8-8 SSC)
Location: Nancy Bottge Field | Melbourne, Fla.  
 
STATS OF THE GAME:

• Both teams opened with strong pitching, as neither side recorded a hit through the first inning
• Sammy Murphy pitched a perfect game through three innings while tech recorded its first hit on a Malaya Nelson single to right center.
• It wasn't until the top of the third Tech impacted the score when Mia Terito launched a solo home run to give the Panthers a 1–0 lead.
• Despite a leadoff single, Murphy forced two flyout and Kate Rodel finished the fourth, catching a Tars runner stealing.
• Following a rain delay, the Panthers had two runners on in the bottom of the fourth but a grounder to third stopped Tech from adding insurance runs.
• Murphy got the first two Rollins batters to whiff on third pitch strikes and the created a flyout in the fifth.
• With the game still at 1-0, Tech looked to create a buffer during the sixth. Haley Rider scorched a two-run home run after a Jillian Moeller double to extend the lead to 3–0.
• The home run was followed by a Nelson single then two batters Mia Terito brought home the pinch runner for a 4-0 edge.
• Rollins' leadoff batter walked to begin the seventh followed by a groundout and flyout.
• The Tars scored on a errored throw from the Panthers but Rodel offset the error with a dart to third base, getting the runner from first out at the plate and ending the game.

NOTABLE PANTHERS:

• Mia Terito crushed a solo home run for one of her two hits and two RBI on the evening.
• Malaya Nelson registered her second consecutive two-hit game.
• In her first action since March 20, Haley Rider blasted what was the winning two-RBI home run in the sixth.
• Samantha Shortal also returned and stolen a base and scored as a pinch runner
• Sammy Murphy pitched a complete game three-hitter and struck out three while not allowing an earned run.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• The Panthers moved to 64-60 all-time versus Rollins.
• Since the start of the 2016 season, the Panthers hold a 16-12 advantage in the series. 
• Terito hit her fourth home run of the season and Rider hit her second.
• Tonight marks Murphy's 20th career win. She is the third Panther pitcher in the 2020s to reach that mark.

UP NEXT: The Panthers retake the field at Nancy Bottge Field for a series, looking for the sweep over Rollins. The first game of the doubleheader will start at 2 p.m. ET.

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