Tori Szrom – Florida Tech Athletics
Following their come-from-behind win over Wingate earlier in the day, Florida Tech finished the day with a big 12-4 win over the Bentley Falcons to finish up day one of the Florida Tech Invitational softball tournament in Cocoa.
The Panthers (4-2) got off to an early lead, only to see it disappear before bouncing back to run-rule the Falcons.
Florida Tech’s Alex Hendrian, who got the start in the game against Wingate, relieved starter Allison Platon after 2.1 innings of work. Dahlia Fink got the start for Bentley and the Panthers jumped on her in the bottom of the first.
Cheyenne Nelson and Mikayla Wessel drew consecutive walks and moved up on a wild pitch. A sac fly by Chloe French brought Nelson home with the first run, and Tori Szrom followed with a two-run shot that just cleared the fence and gave the Panthers a 3-0 lead. Platon took one for the team later in the inning, getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and giving the Panthers a 4-0 lead.
The Falcons (0-2) got right back in it in the top of the third, thanks to home runs by Jordan Krause and Kaileen Cain, both two-run homers and both left no doubt off the bat.
Platon was lifted after the Krause home run was followed by a double. She allowed three runs
Florida Tech didn’t take long to answer, getting five runs in the bottom of the third. Mikayla Lewin singled and came home on a double by Ashley Campbell. Campbell would later score on four hits, and walked one, throwing 39 pitches.
on a single by Wessel, who beat the throw to first and gave the Panthers a 6-4 lead. Szrom would double home two more later in the inning, upping the Panthers lead to 8-4 and the final run came home courtesy of an Ella Chang Gibson RBI single.
Lewin started the bottom of the first with a single. She would steal second and go to third on an error that allowed Nelson to reach. Wessel would not waste much time chasing both runners home with a double to right. Lewin would score on the hit and an error allowed Nelson to score, making it 11-4.
The last run of the game came with some controversy, as the Panthers hit the eight-run rule in the bottom of the fifth. Mya Ogbodiewgu was a pinch-hitter and was hit by a pitch. Jolie Miracle then walked and Peyton Anders came to the plate and hit one to second base. Bentley tried to tag Ogbodiewgu but evidently missed the tag. She kept running and would score as the Falcons threw to first to complete what they thought was a double play.
Bentley appealed the play and had their say, but there was no tag at second according to the umpires and that allowed the 12th and final run to stand.
For more Info: Bentley @ Florida Tech Box
Hendrian (3-2) got the win in relief, pitching the final 2.2 innings. She allowed a run on two hits, striking out one and walking one.
The tournament continues Saturday, with the Panthers facing #8 Saint Anselm at 11:00 a.m. and a rematch with Wingate at 1:30 p.m.