Panthers Come Up Short in Game One Slugfest

Hailey Leonard went 2-for-3 in game 1 - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography

It is odd to call a game that had a 4-3 final score a slugfest, but when the game features four home runs, including the game winner, it seems appropriate. That was the situation Florida Tech softball was in Saturday, as they came up on the short end, in game one of a doubleheader against Palm Beach Atlantic.

“We battled,” said Panthers coach Val Silvestrini. “I thought both teams played well, but we just need to do the little things better.”

PBA (16-11) struck first, against Panthers starter Rachel Pence. Kayla Knight started off the top of the second with a single and later scored on a two-bagger by Michaela Hynes. The top of the third would produce one more run for the Sailfish, but it probably should have been more

Maddie Bertisch started the inning with what seemed to be an innocent pop to short. The ball went off the glove of Krista Patterson and Bertisch inexplicably rounded the bag at first and got caught in a rundown. When all was said, and done, it went into the book as a 6-3-4-3-4 putout and what should have been an error, turned into an out.

Claudia Pizzarelli would single and after a steal of second, would have to leave the game due to an injury on the slide. She would be replaced by Liz Albertini, who went to third on a single by Magnolia West and scored on a throwing error, charged to Makayla Palmer in right field, giving PBA a 2-0 lead.

Florida Tech (15-17) got a run back in the bottom of the fourth. Hailey Leonard was hit by a pitch to start the inning, but the umpire called her back, saying she fouled it off. Leonard got the ultimate revenge, taking Palm Beach starter Jana Wagner deep over the left field wall and cutting the PBA lead to 2-1.

After Pence sent the Sailfish down in order in the fifth, the Panthers struck again in their half of the inning. Kaitlin Buchholz was hit by a pitch with one out. After a sac bunt by Karina Suicava got her to second, Alexus Smith hit a bomb to left field, putting the Panthers up 3-2.

That was the end of the day for Wagner, who was replaced in the circle by Nikki Brinegar, who pitched the final 2.1 innings. She improved her record to 4-5.

Pence (10-10) cruised through the sixth, despite having thrown 94 pitches through five innings. She sent the visitors down in order, helped by a great play at third by Smith, who made a play on a ball hit by Brianna Skipper, throwing her out from her knees.

In the top of the seventh, things unraveled. Pence uncharacteristically gave up back-to-back home runs to Hynes and Shelby Wood, quickly turning a 3-2 lead into a 4-3 deficit. She recovered to get the next three outs on ground balls.

“Those two kids (Hynes and Wood) did a really good job against us,” said Silvestrini. “It was very unfortunate that we gave up the two home runs in a row.”

The Panthers had one more rally left in them in the bottom of the seventh. Vanessa Rubio drew a walk and was lifted for pinch-runner Amanda Kahn. After a single by Audrey Gangloff put runners at first and second, Buchholz flied out. Suicava then hit a smash to short, but Alexis Guerra made a nice play and got Gangloff at second. Suicava then stole second base, putting runners at second and third.

That brought Smith to the plate and she hit a ball that went off the glove of Guerra and looked like it was going to tie the game, unfortunately for the Panthers Suicava ran into her on the play, trying to get to third and was called out, ending the game.

“She was trying to beat the ball in that situation and she unfortunately ran into the player,” said Silvestrini, explaining the Suicava play after the game.

For more info: Palm Beach Atlantic @ Florida Tech Box Score

Leonard led the Panthers with two of their five hits in the contest.  Of the seven hits that Pence gave up, Hynes and Wood combined for four. 

Pence threw in excess of 114 pitches, giving up three earned runs. She walked one and struck out three and her day wasn’t done. She would be involved in game two, which is recapped in a separate article. 

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