MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Florida Tech softball split the doubleheader with Barry, falling 4–2 in game one before bouncing back with a 6–0 shutout in game two.
Sammy Murphy was dominant in the circle, stabilizing the opener in relief and helping lead a commanding shutout effort in the win.
GAME ONE:
STATS OF THE GAME:
Final: Florida Tech 2, Barry 4
Records: Florida Tech (30-17-1, 16-12 SSC) | Barry (24-27, 11-15 SSC)
Location: Buccaneer Softball Field | Miami Shores, Fla.
STATS OF THE GAME:
- In the opening inning, Haley Rider delivered an RBI single, bringing home Miranda Schwartz who hit a double, giving the Panthers a 1–0 lead.
- Barry answered in the bottom half, stealing home and on a base-loaded groundout, to take a 2–1 advantage.
- Audrey Gurule evened it in the second inning scored on a steal of home as Barry was distracted by a runner stealing second.
- Barry responded again in the second, capitalizing on multiple hits and an RBI sac fly to extend the lead to 4–2.
- Sammy Murphy entered in relief and helped stabilize the game, limiting further damage, getting two flyouts to end the second.
- Murphy worked two 1-2-3 innings in the third and fourth innings.
- Ava McCormick came into the game at the start of the fifth. She put down the first three in the fifth and then despite allowing a leadoff hit, McCormick got out of the sixth unscathed.
- Jillian Moeller singled in the sixth but the Panthers would not push a runner home in the final two innigns for the 4-2 defeat.
GAME TWO:
STATS OF THE GAME:
Final: Florida Tech 6, Barry 4
Records: Florida Tech (31-17-1, 17-12 SSC) | Barry (24-28, 11-16 SSC)
Location: Buccaneer Softball Field | Miami Shores, Fla.
STATS OF THE GAME:
- Tech put early pressure on in the first, loading the bases but unable to push a run across.
- A familiar face in the series in Murphy created a foul out and two groundouts in the first.
- The Panthers made the Buccaneers pay in the second inning, scoring five runs. Mia Terito doubled and Audrey Gurule brought her home the following at-bat. Ella Niles' bunt single and a groundout moved Gurule to third creating the squeeze opportunity, putting Tech up 2-0.
- Loading the bases on an intentional walk to Emma Chisholm set up a bases clearing double by Haley Rider, increasing Tech's advantage to 5-0.
- Murphy allowed one hit in the next two innings, keeping the Panthers large lead.
- Tech added another run in the fourth, capitalizing on an error to extend the advantage to 6–0.
- Despite allowing singles in the fourth and the fifth, Murphy kept Barry off the scoreboard.
- Barry threatened in the final inning with multiple baserunners, but Tech closed it out to secure the 6–0 win.
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
- Sammy Murphy appeared for the third time in three games. After a seven-inning shutout, she finished the series with a 2-0 record, 18 innings pitched, eight strikeouts and two earned runs allowed.
- Haley Rider drove in four RBI on two hits in the doubleheader.
- Ella Niles recorded three hits in seven at-bats on Saturday.
- Emma Chisholm went 2-for-2 and drew two walks in the Game Three victory.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- Since the start of the 2016 season, the Panthers have gone 18-14 against the Buccaneers with six series wins.
- Tech earned their seventh ever three-game series win in Miami Shores, five of which have happened under Val Silvestrini.
- The last season in which the Panthers won more than 16 games in league play was in 2019, when they won 23.
UP NEXT: The Panthers wait for the NCAA Softball Selection Show on May 11 at 10 a.m. ET. The Panthers were seventh in the latest regional rankings.
For the latest news, updates and information on the Florida Tech Softball, visit FloridaTechSports.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Panthers news by following Florida Tech Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
