Armstrong State Holds off Florida Tech Rally


The Armstrong State Pirates got their second win over the Florida Tech Panthers in about two weeks, as the visitors scored a 4-3 victory Sunday, in the Florida Tech Marriott Brawl at the Beach tournament.

Sierra Peebles (5-0), who was fresh off a no-hitter on Saturday against East Stroudsburg, was back in the circle Sunday and the Panthers got to her early, scoring twice in the bottom of the third.

Karina Suicava singled, extending her hitting streak to eight games. Alexus Smith then grounded one to third, that was fired over the head of the second baseman and into right field. Suicava scored on the play and Smith made it all the way to third. Krista Patterson then hit a sac fly, giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead.

Florida Tech starter Rachel Pence kept the Pirates off the board until the fifth inning, when Tazha Williams sent one over the wall, cutting the lead in half, 2-1. It was quite a turnaround for the Pirates, who had a rare unsportsmanlike conduct warning issued to the coaching staff earlier in the inning.

Pence (6-2) ran into trouble in the sixth, with the long ball doing her in again. She gave up three singles, with one erased when Emily Swafford was thrown out at second, after rounding the bag too far and being picked off. That was the second out of the inning and Pence looked primed to get out of the inning.

After giving up another single, putting runners at first and second, Pence threw one over the plate that Katie Collins sent skyward. It was long gone and so was the Panthers lead, as they now trailed 4-2.

Florida Tech did not go quietly in the seventh. Smith singled with one out, giving Florida Tech their first hit since the third and keeping her hitting streak alive at five games. Patterson singled sharply, but the play at second was very close, with Smith being called safe. Vanessa Rubio singled, loading the bases with one out.

That brought Hailey Leonard to the plate. She hit a grand slam in the first meeting between these two teams, but hit the ball hard on the ground to second, resulting in an RBI ground out and getting the home team within one, 4-3. With pinch-runners Alexis Hopkins and Amanda Kahn at second and third, Makayla Palmer hit one hard to second that was scooped up and the throw to first ended the game.

With that, Peebles got the complete-game victory, giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits. She walked two and struck out four.

For more info: Armstrong State @Florida Tech Box Score

Patterson was the only Panther with two hits on Sunday, but Audrey Gangloff extended her hitting streak to nine games with a single in the bottom of the second. Pence went the distance, giving up four runs on eight hits. She walked three and struck out three.


The Panthers now hit the road for 12 straight games, beginning with Tuesday’s doubleheader in Georgia, against Valdosta State. The first game starts at 2:00 p.m.



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