Header pic: Cheyenne Nelson – Credit: Florida Tech Athletics
Florida Tech split a doubleheader at Palm Beach on Saturday, losing game one 9-5, before bouncing back with a 5-0 win in game two. PBA took the series with their win on Friday night and the game one win on Saturday.
Cheyenne Nelson went 1-for-4 in game one and 1-for-2 in game two, to keep her hitting streak intact at 14 games. Samantha Guider pitched a three-hit complete-game shutout in game two. It’s her second shutout of the season.
The Panthers got on the board first in the opening frame. Mikayla Wessel reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second. She scored on Mikayla Lewin’s double and Lewin came home on a single by Chloe French. Ella Chang Gibson brought French home with a single later in the inning.
PBA got those runs back in the bottom of the first against Panthers starter Kelsie Rivers. After getting the first two outs, Rivers walked two then gave up a three-run homer to Emma Gipson, tying the game 3-3. Alex Hendrian took Rivers’ spot in the circle after just five batters.
The Sailfish took the lead in the bottom of the second on a bases-loaded wild pitch and an RBI groundout, making it 5-3. Florida Tech tied the game in the top of the third getting one run back on a wild pitch and another on a Whitney Ellis sac fly.
RBI singles in the bottom of the sixth by Briana Rodriguez and Katherine Budnovich made it 7-5 and brought Hendrian’s day to an end. Allison Platon came in and Meredith Milam singled in a run before a sac fly by Gipson made it 9-5.
Hendrian went 4 ⅔ innings allowing six runs (four earned) on seven hits while walking two and striking out one. She threw 73 pitches (51 strikes). Platon pitched an inning.
For more info: Florida Tech @ PBA Box Score (Game 1)
Florida Tech (20-10, 6-6 SSC) scored in the top of the first. Wessel reached on a bunt single and scored on a fielder’s choice hit by Jolie Miracle.
They would get three more runs in the top of the second. Victoria Szrom walked, ahead of singles by Nelson and Wessel that loaded the bases. Lewin was hit by a pitch to put the Panthers up 2-0 and French followed with a two-run single, making it 4-0.
The Panthers capped things off with a run in the seventh on a French single. The hit scored Lewin who had walked earlier in the inning. Wessel were both 2-for-4 in game two, with Wessel scoring two runs.
For more info: Florida Tech @ PBA Box Score (Game 2)
The final numbers for Guider (8-4) were impressive. She walked three and struck out two, allowing three hits. She threw 96 pitches, 64 for strikes.
Milestones: Tori Szrom earned her 100th career hit in game two, while Ashley Campbell played her 100th game at Florida Tech in game one.
(Courtesy of Florida Tech Sports Information Department)
The Panthers will host Molloy College on Tuesday at 3:30 followed by a game against Kutztown.