Kahn, Pence Lead Panthers Doubleheader Sweep of Rollins

Amanda Kahn - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography

The Florida Tech Panthers were back at it Saturday afternoon, wrapping up their three-game series with Rollins College. The Panthers, who came away with a 3-1 win on Friday, completed the series sweep with a 2-0 win in game one and a 6-5 victory in game two.

The Panthers needed these wins badly, as they have struggled early in Sunshine State Conference play. They were 1-5 going into the weekend and suddenly, they are just one game below .500 in the conference.

Amanda Kahn and Rachel Pence were the Panthers pitchers for the day, each picking up a win and a save on the day.

Kahn (6-4) pitched well in game one, giving up two hits in her 4.2 innings of work. She walked two and struck out two, throwing 66 pitches, 44 for strikes. Her team gave her all the support she needed in the top of the first.

Alexus Smith started things with a single, against Rollins starter Grace Street. She was out at second on a fielder’s choice by Hailey Leonard. Leonard stole second and Krista Patterson drew a walk, putting runners at first and second. Vanessa Rubio singled Leonard home, moving Patterson to third. 

An RBI single by Makayla Palmer brought Patterson home, giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead.
The biggest threat from the Tars came in the fifth, when Kahn walked Sarah Harrison, who stole second.  Hailee Keisling followed with a walk, forcing Panthers coach Val Silvestrini to bring Pence in to get the final out. She did just that, striking out Rachel Minier.

Pence gave up a single in the sixth and retired the Tars in order in the seventh, preserving the win for Kahn and picking up her third save in the process. Pence gave up one hit in her 2.1 innings of work and also picked up a strikeout.

Florida Tech had six hits in Friday’s win, spread out over six different players. They did one better in game one Saturday, getting seven hits by seven different players.

For more info: Florida Tech @ Rollins (Game 1)

Pence and Kahn switched roles in game two, with Pence getting the start. She would face Sarah Piening, who took the loss in Friday’s series opener.

Rachel Pence - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography
The Panthers got a run in the first, with Leonard drilling a one out triple to Leonard. Patterson then reached on an error on a ball hit to centerfield, scoring Leonard with an unearned run.

The Tars answered in a hurry, when a single and an error set the table for Chandler Middlebrook, who took Pence out of the yard, giving Rollins a 3-1 lead. The Panthers would answer that in a big way, scoring five runs in the top of the second.

Kaitlin Buchholz singled to start the inning and went to second on a passed ball. Audrey Gangloff reached on a fielder’s choice, putting runners at the corners. Gangloff stole second, with Karina Suicava at the plate. Suicava then dropped down a bunt and got a single out of it, scoring two and tying the game, 3-3. 

Smith continued her power surge, with a two-run shot to left center, giving the Panthers a 5-1 lead. This follows Smith’s two home run performance last Saturday at home. The Panthers weren’t done, as they tacked on another run, thanks to a single by Patterson and an RBI double by Rubio.

That was the end of the day for Piening, who was replaced by Amanda Guglietta. She ended the inning by inducing ground outs from Palmer and Julianna Goldberg.
The Tars (22-16, 5-7 SSC) got another home run from Middlebrook in the fifth and they tacked on another with two errors leading to Brianne Lint, scoring. That made it a 7-6 game. Pence did get through the inning, but she did not come out for the sixth, giving way to Kahn. She retired all six batters she faced, over the final two innings. With that, she secured her first save of the season.

For more info: Florida Tech @ Rollins (Game 2)


Alexus Smith - Photo credit: James Ragan
Florida Tech (19-17, 4-5 SSC) will return home next Saturday, hosting Nova Southeastern in a key Sunshine State Conference series. Game one is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Friday. That will be followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at 1:00 p.m.



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