Header pic: Mikayla Wessel

The Florida Tech softball team kicked off day two of the Florida Tech Invitational with an exciting 3-2 win over the 8th-ranked Saint Anselm Hawks.

Alex Hendrian got the start in the circle for Florida Tech against Sophia Dipippo. Hendrian got off to a great start, pitching 4.1 innings before the Hawks got their first hit, a single off the bat of Kylee Royer.

Mikayla Lewin got the Panthers on the board with a solo blast to start the bottom of the fifth inning. Mikayla Wessel then had a two-out single, her third hit of the game in three at-bats. Cheyenne Nelson’s single got Wessel to second and she was singled home by Chloe French to put the Panthers up, 2-0.

Hendrian continued to pitch well into the seventh inning. Kylie Fitzpatrick started that seventh frame with a single. One out later, Gracie O’Hara singled moving pinch-runner Jess Persechino to second. After Hendrian struck out the next batter, Brianna Belisle came through with a two-out, two-run double, tying the game at two.

Sam Guider (3-1) came in in relief of Hendrian and gave up a single to Ava Caputo. Belisle tried to score on the play, but Cheyenne Nelson showed off her cannon of an arm from center, throwing Belisle out by a bunch at the plate and keeping the score 2-2, heading to the eighth. 

Guider retired the Hawks in order in the eighth and the Panthers started with pinch-runner Peyton Anders as the free-runner at second. She stayed there as the first two outs were recorded, bringing up Jolie Miracle. She promptly doubled Anders home with the winning run.

Hendrian deserved a better fate, pitching 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. She walked one and struck out four, throwing 44 of her 76 pitches for strikes.

Guider got the win in relief, throwing 1 ⅓ inning. She threw nine pitches, allowing just one hit.

For more info: Saint Anselm @ Florida Tech Box Score 

Game two of the day was a rematch of Friday’s game against Wingate. The Panthers won Friday’s game 3-2 and the game two recap is posted here.