Leonard’s Grand Slam Not Enough Against Armstrong State


After being no-hit in a 12-0 loss Friday Morning against Angelo State in the opening game of the Florida Tech Marriott First Pitch Classic, the Panthers were upended in their afternoon tilt, losing 11-7 to the third -ranked Armstrong State Pirates.

The Panthers only had three hits in the game, the biggest coming off the bat of Hailey Leonard, who hit a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth, breaking a 3-3 tie.

The Pirates hit four homers in the game against Florida Tech ace, Rachel Pence, two of those coming off the bat of Autumn Parrish.

This was certainly not the way Pence (0-1) envisioned her senior season starting. She gave up nine runs (eight earned) in five innings. Macy Coleman got to Pence early, taking her deep on the third pitch of the game, to give the visiting Pirates a 1-0 lead.

Senior Tori Bates got the start in the circle for Armstrong and she struggled out of the gate as well, as the Panthers answered with three runs in the bottom of the first. Alexus Smith led off with a walk and Krista Patterson doubled off the wall, giving FIT their first hit if the season. Leonard then reached on an error, allowing Smith to cross, tying the game, 1-1.

Patterson would score one out later, on a wild pitch, moving Leonard to third. Makayla Palmer would then reach on a fielder’s choice, scoring Leonard and giving the Panthers a 3-1 lead. Kaitlin Buchholz would draw a walk later in the inning, loading the bases, but Bates got Karina Suicava to strike out, ending the inning.

An RBI single by Connor Weaver in the top of the second made it a 3-2 game and the Pirates would tie it in the fourth with a solo home run off the bat of Parrish, leading off the frame.

The Panthers (0-2) answered back in a big way in the bottom of the inning. Buchholz drew a one out walk, Suicava reached on a fielder’s choice, as Buchholz beat the throw to second. Smith then reached on another fielder’s choice, but the Pirates did retire Suicava on that play, with Buchholz going to third.

Smith kept things going with a steal of second and after Patterson drew a walk to load the bases, Leonard took Bates deep over the center field wall, giving the Panthers a 7-3 lead.

The lead was short-lived for Florida Tech, as the Pirates stormed back with six runs on seven hits in the top of the fifth. After Pence got the first out, she gave up three straight hits and was then victimized by a fielding error. There was a second error on the throw, and just like that, it was 7-6.

An RBI single by Savanna Gladue tied the game and Logan Harrell’s two-run home run gave the visitors a 9-7 lead. They would add the final two runs in the top of the sixth, against relief pitcher Amanda Kahn, on the second home run of the day by Parrish.

For more info: ArmstrongState @ Florida Tech Box Score

The Panthers will look for their first win of the season Saturday, as the tournament continues with a game against Nova Southeastern. First pitch is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Florida Tech will also face Palm Beach Atlantic Saturday, with that game scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. start.


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