The Florida Tech softball team won their final game of the McCorkle challenge tournament on Sunday, beating the Texas A&M International Dustdevils, 2-1. It was the second consecutive win for the Panthers who beat TAMI last night in a thrilling 6-5 game.

Panthers junior Melanie Murphy evened her record at 2-2, throwing her fourth complete-game of the season. When you consider that both of her losses came this weekend to #2 ranked Angelo State by scores of 3-0 and 4-0, her start in a Panthers uniform is even that much more impressive.

TAMI (2-9) got on the board first in the bottom of the second. Alyssa Acuna singled and stole second, and came home one out later when Robi Kami singled with two outs, giving the Dustdevils a 1-0 lead.

Florida Tech (4-4) answered in the bottom of the frame. Xiarysse Emerenciana singled with one out and promptly stole second. Mikayla Wessel worked a walk after seven pitches, putting runners at first and second. They weren’t there long, as Ally Carver drove an 0-1 pitch to right field, scoring both runs and giving the Panthers a 2-1 lead.

The Panthers looked poised to add to their lead in the fifth when Wessel singled, Carver reached on an error and Makayla Palmer walked, all with one out. Victoria Szrom was next and she lined back to TAMI pitcher Melanie Lint for the second out. That brought Rebecca Wilson to the plate, and Lint got her swinging on a 3-2 count.

The Dustdevils got two runners on in the sixth, helped by an error, but Murphy worked around that and she got through the seventh unscathed, striking out the final two batters she faced.

When all was said and done, Murphy allowed one run on six hits and struck out eight. She threw 93 pitches. Lint, who fell to 0-3, allowed two runs on five hits, walking four and striking out three. She threw 121 pitches in the complete game loss.

For more info: Florida Tech @ Texas A&M International Box Score 

Florida Tech will open their home season when they host the Florida Tech Softball Classic Tournament, which gets underway Friday with the Panthers taking on St. Mary’s at 10:00 a.m. They will play Lynn University at 3:00 p.m.