Day two of the Florida Tech Invitational at the USSSA Complex in Viera did not bring the Panthers’ first win of the 2020 season. Florida Tech lost to both Angelo State and West Florida on Saturday, dropping them to 0-7 on the season.
The afternoon opened with a game against the Angelo State Rambelles. Florida Tech was held to one hit in this one, falling by the score of 2-0.
Jordan Lawlis got the start and went the distance in this game. She allowed two runs (none earned) on four hits. She walked one and struck out one, throwing 87 pitches.
After a tough start to the season that has seen the Panthers commit a high number of errors, they had just one against the Rambelles, but it proved costly.
Mikayla Wessel got the only hit for the Panthers in the bottom of the first. She stole second and got to third on an error but was stranded, as Angelo State starter Megan Hill shut the door.
ASU (6-3) got their runs in the third inning. After a single by Keilei Garcia got things going. Jade Strother would then reach on a throwing error, and Garcia was able to come all the way around to score. A sac bunt got Strother to third. She would score on a passed ball, giving the Rambelles a 2-0 lead.
The Panthers were not able to manage another baserunner against Hill, who struck out four while throwing 76 pitches.
For more info: Angelo State @ Florida Tech Box Score
Next up for the Panthers was the second meeting in a week against the University of West Florida. After beating the Panthers 11-2 last Saturday, the Argos came away with a 5-3 win at the USSSA Complex Saturday night.
Tina Velazquez Rolon gave up a single to Teala Howard and an error in the outfield got her to second. Another error on a ball hit by Grace Gilbert put runners at the corners. After two were out, Courtney McLellan reached on the third Panther error of the inning, and that chased Howard and Gilbert home, making it 2-0.
Florida Tech answered in the bottom of the fourth. Jaden Kline walked with one out. She was replaced by pinch-runner Katrina Hand. Velazquez Rolon would chase her home later in the inning with a double, making it 2-1.
West Florida would answer quickly with an RBI single off the bat of Gilbert, scoring Howard and giving the Argos a 3-1 lead. After allowing another RBI single to Jacquelynne Poling, Velazquez was relieved in the circle by Raychel Trocki. A sac fly by Mika Garcia later in the inning made it 5-1/
Velazquez Rolon allowed five hits in 4.1 innings of work, striking out three and walking two. Three of the five West Florida runs were earned. She threw 82 pitches.
Trocki would give up just two hits in her 2.2 innings. She struck out two and walked one, giving the Panthers a chance to get back into this one.
Ashlynn Shelley drew a walk against Argos’ reliever Megan Warhurst, as did Katie Maiello. A single by Cheyenne Nelson loaded the bases. Shelley was out at the plate on a ball hit by Wessel. Kline hit into a fielder’s choice, allowing Nelson to score. Maiello tried to come home as well, but she was out. With that, the West Florida lead was 5-2.
The Panthers had another chance in the seventh, as Nelson and Kline both walked. Vanessa Rubio singled Nelson home to make it 5-3, but Velazquez hit into a fielder’s choice, putting runners at the corners with two outs. Ally Carver was the Panthers’ last chance, but she hit a ground ball, and Velazquez was the final out of the game.
For more info: West Florida @ Florida Tech Box Score
The Panthers will play their final game of the weekend on Sunday against the University of West Alabama. The first pitch is set for 10:00 a.m.