The Florida Tech Panthers closed out the 2022 season with a doubleheader split against the Rollins College Tars. Game one went the way of the Panthers, who won 3-0 and game two ended an inning early when Rollins run-ruled Florida Tech 8-0 in six innings.

The Panthers honored their six seniors before game one, as Ashley Campbell, Lexi Clark, Tori Szrom, Mikayla Wessel, Peyton Anders, and Kelsi Rivers played the final games of their Panther careers.

Game one was a pitching duel between Alex Hendrian and Emily MacMullen.

Florida Tech (32-20, 15-15 SSC) had nine hits in game one, to the Tars three. Wessel went 3-for-3 and stole second and third base in the bottom of the first in game one. Szrom was 2-for-3, leading the way on senior day.

Ashley Worrell, who hit into a triple-play in Friday’s series opener, ended the top of the first by lining into a double-play. 

Wessel singled in the fifth but was thrown out trying to steal second. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when Cheyenne Nelson led off with a double. After Chloe French singled to move her to third, Lewin reached on a fielder’s choice and later scored on an error to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead/

Szrom singled later in the inning, moving Lewin to third. The duo then attempted a double steal. Lewin made it home before Szrom was thrown out at second, putting the Panthers up 2-0. Jolie Miracle closed the scoring with a solo home run following the double steal and it was 3-0.

Hendrian (10-7) retired the side in order in the top of the seventh, capping off her complete game. She walked three and struck out four while allowing three hits. She threw 83 pitches, 49 strikes.

For more info: Rollins @ Florida Tech Box Score

Game two saw Kelsi Rivers in the circle for the Panthers but she struggled in her 2 ⅓ innings, allowing an RBI groundout to Jaden Walker and a Tristin Peace RBI single, scoring Grace Germer who doubled earlier in the inning. 

Rivers (6-5) got out of the inning and got the first out in the third before giving way to Samantha Guider. Rivers allowed two earned runs on three hits, throwing 21 of her 33 pitches for strikes.

Taylor Waters singled home Germer in the top of the fourth, making it 3-0. Ashley Troutman singled to start the fifth inning and she scored on a Chelsea Peace hit to up the lead to 4-0. 

Rollins (28-7, 19-5 SSC) put the game away in the top of the sixth. A bases-loaded walk made it 5-0. Raiven Bryant’s 2-run single made it 7-0 and Peace knocked in the final run with a single. That ended the day for Guider, who gave way to Allison Platon.

Guider allowed 12 hits and six runs in three innings of work. She walked one and struck out three, throwing 59 pitches, 42 for strikes.

For more info: Rollins @ Florida Tech Box Score (Game 2) 

Wessel had two of the Panthers’ four hits in game two, with French and Szrom each picking up one knock.

Thank you to Florida Tech coach Val Silvestrini for her willingness to do phone interviews this season. We wish the seniors the best of luck and look forward to covering the team in 2023.