Leonard Homers, Panthers Win in Extras

Hailey Leonard - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography

Florida Tech came from behind Wednesday, beating nationally ranked Caldwell, 5-4 in eight innings. Alexus Smith capped off a 3-for-5 day with an RBI single, driving in Rachel Kraak, who started the inning at second base, as per the international tiebreaker rules.
The eighth inning would have never happened if not for Hailey Leonard, who came up in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and hit a game-tying home run against Caldwell starter Sydney Ponto, tying the game, 4-4.


The Cougars (4-7) broke through in the top of the fourth, against Panthers ace Rachel Pence. Marisa Monasseri and Carly Testa hit back-to-back singles. Hannah Polak knocked in pinch-runner Demitria Kitrinos, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.
The Panthers (13-16) answered with a run in the bottom of the frame, but could have had more. Leonard tripled and one out later, Karina Suicava tried to lay down a squeeze bunt, but missed and Leonard was out at the plate. Suicava redeemed herself quickly, drilling a single to left. She scored on a double by Smith.
That run in the fourth was the first of five straight innings that the Panthers would score. That said, the Cougars were not done yet. They scored twice in the fifth on RBI singles from Melissa Rini and Monasseri, making it 3-1. Pence came back to strike out Polack, ending the inning.
Krista Patterson started the Florida Tech fifth reaching on an error. Makayla Palmer flew to right and the ball was dropped, but Patterson was thrown out at second. After Julianna Goldberg walked, Vanessa Rubio singled to load the bases. Vanessa Rubio’s sac fly made it a 3-2 game.
Rachel Pence - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography
The Cougars got that run back in the top of the sixth, thanks to three singles. The last of those off the bat of Lauren Frye, making it 4-2. Kahn (4-4) came in with two outs in the inning, taking over for Pence, who gave up 11 hits in 5.1 innings. She allowed four runs, struck out six and did not walk a batter.


In the bottom of the inning, Katie Maiello walked and went to second on a passed ball. She came home on Patterson’s double, cutting the Caldwell lead to 4-3. Pence retired the Cougars in order in the top of the seventh, setting the stage for Leonard.
Ponto struck out pinch-hitter Amanda Kahn to start the Panthers seventh. After Rubio grounded out, Leonard got a hold of one and watched it sail over the centerfield wall, tying things up.
Due to the tiebreaker rules, Polack started the bottom of the eighth on second, but Kahn did well, stranding her at third, recording a 1-2-3 inning.
Kraak started the eighth as the Florida Tech runner at second. Suicava’s sac bunt got her to third and she scored on Smith’s single to center, giving the Panthers a 5-4 victory.

The Panthers went up against the Kutztown Golden Bears in game two of the day. That game is recapped in a separate article.


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