Panthers Get Revenge on Angelo State


The Florida Tech Panthers finished their five-game weekend on a high note Sunday, beating Angelo State 4-3, in the finale of the Florida Tech Marriott First Pitch Classic.

The Rambelles came into Sunday’s game undefeated and were looking for their second win over the Panthers in about 48 hours. They throttled Florida Tech in the tournament opener on Friday, 12-0 on the strength of a no-hitter by Brandy Marlett.

Marlett was on the mound again Sunday, but things got off to a rocky start for her when she walked four batters, including a bases loaded walk to Julianna Goldberg. That allowed Krista Patterson to trot home with the Panthers first run. Marlett had walked four previous hitters in the tournament to that point, so this was not the way she expected to start.

Florida Tech pitcher Rachel Pence did not throw against the Angelo State on Friday, but she pitched game two of the tournament Friday and went on to pitch both games Saturday. That didn’t keep her from making her fourth start on Sunday, as the Panthers called on her for the second consecutive day.

She started well, striking out the last two batters of the second inning and the first batter in the third inning. She finished the day with eight strikeouts, including a couple big ones to get her team out of trouble.

Angelo State rallied in the third despite the opening strikeout. Nine-hole hitter, Karina Rocha took Pence deep over the wall in left, tying the game, 1-1. Rocha was 1-for-11 in the tournament prior to that at bat.    Madison Greenwell and Bailey Wallace followed with consecutive singles. Greenwell moved to third on the Wallace hit, but it was determined that she left the second base bag early and she was called out, sending Wallace back to the batter’s box.

That call would be key, because she would single again and steal second, meaning Greenwell would’ve scored. There was an error later in the inning, bringing Wallace to the plate and giving the Rambelles a 2-1 lead.

The Panthers came right back in the bottom of the third. Hailey Leonard singled with one out. She moved to third on a single off the bat of freshman Vanessa Rubio. Makayla Palmer stepped up and drilled a double to left-center, not missing a home run by much. That put the Panthers up 3-2. A single by Audrey Gangloff gave Florida Tech an insurance run.

That third inning was the end of the day for Marlett, who was relieved by Kenedy Urbany. Urbany did well for the most part, keeping the Panthers off the board the rest of the way.

Pence wiggled in and out of trouble a couple more times, including the fifth inning, when she stranded runners at second and third, after she got Courtney Barnhill swinging at strike three. The Rambelles left two more runners on in the sixth.

Pence got Wallace to ground out to begin the seventh and that was huge, because Urbany would hit a solo homer, bringing her team to within one, 4-3. That was as close as they would come, as Pence was able to get the final two outs.

With that, the Panthers ace improved to 3-1 on the season, throwing another complete game on 
Sunday. She allowed nine hits, but seven of them were singles. Two of the three runs were earned and she only walked one.

For more info: Angelo State @ Florida Tech Box Score

Next up for the Panthers is a trip to Clearwater, for the NFCA Division II Leadoff Classic. The Panthers will play St. Mary’s on Friday, at 7:30 p.m.  


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