Panthers Split with Valdosta State


The Florida Tech softball team split a doubleheader with Valdosta State on Tuesday, winning game one 11-2, before dropping the second game 6-5.

The Panthers did all their damage in two of the five innings played in the first game, pounding out 13 hits. Alexus Smith finished game one 3-for-4 and the Karina Suicava, who has done a great job in the nine spot for the Panthers in the early going, finishing 3-for-3 on Tuesday, with two RBIs.

Rachel Pence (7-2) gave up five hits in her five innings of work, with both Valdosta State runs coming in the first inning. She walked two and did not strike out a batter.

Blazers pitcher Avery Lamb went the first three innings, with the Panthers exploding for seven runs in the top of the third. Suicava and Smith singled and Krista Patterson drew a walk to load the bases. Vanessa Rubio doubled in two, tying the game and the Panthers were off and running.

Hailey Leonard’s RBI ground out made it 3-2 and Makayla Palmer had an RBI double, making it 4-2. Palmer scored the fifth run on a wild pitch and Suicava, up for the second time in the inning, knocked in Audrey Gangloff. Smith followed with an RBI single, capping the seven-run inning.

Kathryn Carter took over in the fourth and the Panthers wasted no time, touching her up for four runs in the fourth inning. A single by Leonard was sandwiched between walks to Rubio and Palmer, loading the bases for the second straight inning. Rachel Kraak stroked a two-run single to center, making it 9-2.

Kaitlin Buchholz hit into a double play, plating another run and Suicava came through again with an RBI double.

For more info: Florida Tech @ Valdosta State Box score (Game 1)

Florida Tech (10-5) got off to a good start in game two, when Rubio took Blazers pitcher Kasie Johnson deep, leading off the game. It was one of only three hits on the day for the visitors.

Chelsea Canara answered with a homer in the bottom of the third, off Panthers starter Amanda Kahn.

Kahn (3-1) ran into trouble in the fourth, giving up run scoring singles to Jessica Mohl and Canara before giving way to McKenzie Krutsinger. Taylor Hartenbach hit one to third that was booted, giving the Blazers two more runs and a 6-1 lead.

Kahn was charged with six runs (four earned) in 3.1 innings. She gave up six hits, walked three and struck out one. Krutsinger gave up a hit and struck out one in two-thirds of an inning of work. Pence finished things up, pitching the final two innings, striking out two.

Florida Tech went down swinging in the fifth, two coming on separate errors and two more on a 2-run single by Smith, but it wasn’t enough as the Panthers fell one run short.

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

The Panthers road trip continues Friday with their first Sunshine State Conference series, against the Tampa Spartans at 6:00 p.m. Things will wrap up Saturday, with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon and 2:00 p.m.


This blog is an extension of our website - Sportslowdown.com Follow us on Twitter @sports_lowdown

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Panthers Rout Tarzans in Home Opener

Image
Sam Daniel (0) led the Panthers with 22 points in Monday's 110-84 victory After opening the season with two losses in the South Regional Tipoff Classic over the weekend, the Florida Tech Men’s Basketball team took their frustrations out on Puerto Rico-Mayaguez on Monday, with a 110-84 home victory. “It always feels good to home to the friendly confines of the Clemente Center,” said FIT head coach Billy Mims. “I knew when we got back here we’d shoot the ball better and we knocked down 14 threes’ and that’s the way we’re supposed to shoot the basketball.” Florida Tech (1-2) allowed five double-digit scorers in both losses in Atlanta. On Monday, they only allowed three and they had five of their own, led by Sam Daniel , who finished with 22, despite having only four in the first half. “The first half they had a box-and-one one me, pretty much had a player chasing me wherever I went,” Sam said. “It was an excellent job by my teammates stepping up to score the ball an...
Read more

FIT Women Fall Short Against Rollins

Image
The Florida Tech Women’s basketball team made a late run at a comeback Wednesday against Rollins, but ultimately the Tars hung on for a 72-67 Sunshine State Conference win. “It comes down to Rollins wanted that game more than we did,” said Panthers head coach John Reynolds. “I’m thinking that and it hurts me to say something like that, but you can’t come out in a conference game and go 3-for-14 on three’s.” Florida Tech (5-2, 1-2 SSC) led 14-11 after one quarter, The Panthers were within a point at 27-26, but a six-point run by Rollins late in the second helped them outscore the Panthers 25-14 in the quarter and go to the locker room with a 36-28 advantage. The visitors were 5-of-13 beyond the arc in that first half, while the Panthers went 0-for-8. Shequana Harris had eight points and three rebounds in the first 20 minutes, to pace the Panthers. “I think she played as hard and as good as she could,” said Reynolds of Harris. Marie Gilbert gave the Tars a 42-33 adv...
Read more

Tars Big Second Half Beats Panthers

Image
Jordan Majors - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography The Florida Tech Men’s basketball team had a tough task Saturday, when they traveled to Rollins. For the first 20 minutes, they looked up for it, as they led the Tars 38-32 at the half. Unfortunately for the Panthers, the home team put the pedal to the medal in the second half, scoring 59 points and winning 91-82 in a Sunshine State Conference game. It was the second straight devastating loss in the conference for the Panthers, who dropped a very controversial home game to Saint Leo on Wednesday. “We must be the best first half team in America,” said Florida Tech head coach Billy Mims, in his post-game interview with Jim Mitchell. “But we can’t play 40 minutes of consistency to save or lives.” The Panthers (11-8, 4-6 SSC) were up 12 against Saint Leo and up six at Rollins at the half, but lost both games. Florida Tech got off to a good start Saturday, with Jordan Majors hitting two quick threes. Things sagged...
Read more