Panthers Fall to A&M-Commerce


The Florida Tech softball team entered the final day of the NFCA Division II Leadoff Classic undefeated, but the Lions of Texas A&M-Commerce changed that, with a 9-4 victory over the Panthers.

The Lions scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, turning a 3-2 deficit into an 8-3 lead and they never looked back. Alexus Smith and Vanessa Rubio both went 2-for4 at the plate for FIT.  Makayla Palmer was 2-for-3.

Texas A &M-Commerce got on the board in the bottom of the second against Florida Tech starter Amanda Kahn. After being hit by a pitch, Vanessa Avina got to second on a ground out and stole third. She came home on home on a ground out by December Rivers.

The Panthers answered in the top of the third, putting a run in the board against Lions starter Kinsie Hebler. Krista Patterson drew a walk and went to third on a double by Smith. A sac fly by Hailey Leonard tied things up, 1-1.

The Panthers (6-3) struck for two in the top of the fourth, against Texas A&M-Commerce reliever, Courtnee Jones. Palmer walked, Julianna Goldberg reached on an error. Palmer was out on the play and Kahn was inserted as a pinch-runner for Goldberg. After Audrey Gangloff singled, Jones walked Kaitlin Buchholz and Selena Rima was called on to keep the Panthers off the board.

Rima got Karina Suicava to hit a ground ball that turned into a fielder’s choice, with Kahn tagged out at home. After Patterson coaxed a walk out of Rima to make it 2-1, Smith singled, scoring Buchholz and putting the visitors up 3-1.

A&M got a run back in the bottom of the fourth, when Chealsea Slider brought Mariah Jameyson home with a single. Jameyson had doubled earlier in the inning. An intentional walk by Kahn to pinch-hitter Cherie Jackson loaded the bases, but the strategy worked as she got Kayla Kilcrease to ground into a fielder’s choice, keeping it a 3-2 game.

Kahn was relieved by McKenzie Krutsinger to start the fifth, after throwing 54 pitches, 35 for strikes. Unfortunately for Krutsinger it was an outing she would like to forget. The Lions scored six runs on six hits in the inning, highlighted by consecutive RBI singles from December Rivers, Precious Thompson and Kilcrease. There were two errors in the inning, including one that allowed the final run of the inning to score, after Kahn was brought back in to try to stem the tide.

Krutsinger took the loss, with 0.2 IP. She gave up six runs (five earned) on six hits and walked one. 13 of her 21 pitches were strikes.

The Panthers got a run back in the top of the sixth on a Vanessa Rubio single, but the Lions answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. Florida Tech had a chance to mount a comeback in the top of the seventh, but left the bases loaded. That was the story of the day for the Panthers, who left 13 on base.

Kahn got credit for 5.1 innings, giving up three runs on five hits, walking one and striking out two. She threw 67 pitches, 44 for strikes.  

For more info: Florida Tech @ Texas A&M Commerce Box Score


The Panthers took on Georgia College later in the afternoon Sunday, that game will be recapped in a separate article.

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