Header pic: Cheyenne Nelson
Florida Tech got a hard-earned win over Bentley on Sunday to start the final day of the Florida Tech Invitational at the Launch Pad in Cocoa. The Panthers beat the Falcons 5-4 in 10 innings.
It was the second win of the weekend over the Falcons, as the Panthers won 12-4 on Friday afternoon.
Cheyenne Nelson had two doubles and accounted for three of the Panthers’ nine hits, including driving in the tying run in the 10th and scoring the winning run. Chloe French was 2-for-3, including the game-winning single in the bottom of the 10th.
Allison Platon got the start in the circle for the Panthers, opposed by Elise Pereira.
Bentley (1-4) got an early jump, with Jordan Krause leading off the game with a home run. They threatened for more, but Platon got a double-play to end the inning. The Falcons added a run in the second inning on a Kylee Amato RBI single.
Platon lasted just two innings, relieved by Sam Guider to start the third. Platon allowed two runs on three hits, striking out one and walking one. He threw 43 pitches, 24 for strikes.
Guider (4-2) wasted no time getting to work. She struck out the side in the third.
Florida Tech (6-3) evened things up in the bottom of the third. Mikayla Wessel singled and stole second. She was knocked in by Nelson’s double, making it 2-1. The Panthers loaded the bases later in the inning, and Jolie Miracle chased Nelson home with a single, tying things at two.
The game remained tied forcing extra innings, and each team started the inning with a runner at second. Kaileen Cain’s fielder’s choice gave the Falcons a 3-2 lead, but the Panthers got the run back in the bottom of the frame when Ella Chang Gibson hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Nelson to tie the game 3-3.
After Bentley regained the lead in the top of the 10th, Florida Tech ended things in the bottom of the inning. Mikayla Wessel took second as the Panthers’ free runner. She was sacrificed to third by Whitney Ellis, bringing Nelson to the plate.
Nelson, who has proven herself in the clutch many times, did it again in this one, smacking a double to left-center to tie the game at four. French followed with a solid single to center, scoring Nelson with the winning run and giving the Panthers their fourth victory of the weekend.
A tip of the cap to Guider, who pitched eight innings to earn the win. She allowed five hits with both runs against her being unearned. She struck out five and did not walk a batter, throwing 65 of 90 pitches for strikes.
For more info: Bentley @ Florida Tech Box Score
Florida Tech wraps up the tournament at 2:30 p.m. today against #17 West Florida.