Panthers Walk-Off Against Barry, Gain Doubleheader Split

After a back-and-forth affair between Barry and Florida Tech in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader, the teams put on one heck of an encore, with Florida Tech pulling out a 14-13 victory at Nancy Bottge Field and earning a much-needed split.

“That’s something I’m really proud of, these kids keep battling and never quit,” said Panthers coach Val Silvestrini after the game. “We had to come back in several situations.”

A single by Hailey Leonard in the bottom of the seventh, drove in the 27^th run of the game and capped off over four hours of baseball between the two games.  The victory meant the Panthers avoided a sweep and more importantly, gave them their first conference win of the season.

Things did not start well for Florida Tech, as Barry got an unearned run against starter Amanda Kahn, when shortstop Krista Patterson dropped a ball that would’ve ended the inning. After a fielder’s choice kept the inning going, Kahn got Avery Cotterill, swinging to end the inning.

The Patterson error quickly became a distant memory when the Panthers put a five-spot on the board in the bottom of the frame. Alexus Smith singled against Barry starter Anieliese Palmeiro, who then issued back-to-back walks to Katie Maiello and Patterson, loading the bases. That signaled the end of the day for Palmeiro, who gave way to Lynsey Duncan, without recording an out.

Duncan was called for an illegal pitch, allowing the tying run to score and the other runners to move up. Makayla Palmer then smashed a two-run double to left, bringing Patterson and Maiello home. 

After Goldberg singled home Palmer, Vanessa Rubio doubled, putting runners on second and third. Leonard’s RBI single capped a big inning for the home team.

Barry (8-15, 4-5 SSC) answered the big inning from the Panthers with one of their own, scoring six times in the top of the second. A bloop single by Alayna Gallagher, a double by Duncan and a two-run double by Jasmine Harris, tied the game at 5-5. That was all she wrote for Kahn, who was pulled by Silvestrini.

McKenzie Krutsinger (1-2) entered and walked Kristina Osorio, before giving up an RBI single to Maddy VonHagel. A sac fly by Avery Cotterill made it 7-5, before Krutsinger struck out Catie Falcon for the final out. When all was said, and done, Barry batted around, as Falcon started the inning with a single.

Barry upped their lead to 9-5 in the fourth, when Osorio, who homered in game one, took Krutsinger deep in game two, plating Harris who doubled earlier in the inning. Krutsinger kept things right there, despite giving up a triple to Cheyanne head to start the fifth. She got a ground out, pop out and a fly out, keeping Head from scoring. That would prove to be big later in the game.

Florida Tech (12-16, 1-5 SSC) got up off the deck again in the bottom of the fifth. A single by Julianna Goldberg, a walk to Rubio and a single by Leonard, loaded the bases. After two outs were recorded, Smith singled to score one and Maiello smacked a two-run single, closing the gap to 9-8.

The Panthers kept the momentum going in the sixth, when Leonard doubled with the bases loaded, scoring two and giving the Panthers a 10-9 lead. Karina Suicava then laid down a bunt, bringing Leonard home and Rubio followed on a late throw, giving the Panthers a 12-9 lead.

As was the case all day, Barry refused to go away quietly. With one out in the top of the seventh, Sam Busekrus, Head and Gallagher all singled, loading the bases. Duncan then flied out to left, with no movement from Busekrus.

That left Harris as the last hope for Barry and Krutsinger got two strikes on her, before throwing a pitch that Harris deposited over the center field wall, for a grand slam. Just like that, the Buccaneers went from trailing by three runs and being down to their last strike, to leading 13-12.

The Panthers got right to work in the bottom of the seventh, with Maiello driving a single down the left field line. One out later, Palmer singled to left, putting runners at first and second. After Goldberg reached on an error at third on what looked to be an easy play, Rubio drew a bases loaded walk, tying the game at 13. That brought Leonard up, who rifled one through the left side, scoring Palmer with the winning run.

“This is the wildest game I’ve ever coached,” said Silvestrini. “This group never loses their composure, they’re willing to battle and they’re relentless. We know we can win any game. Until the last out, we still have a chance.”

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

Leonard not only got the game-winning hit, she went 4-for-5 in the game, driving in four and scoring two. Maiello, who is usually a pinch-runner for the most part, came up with a 2-for-4 day with two RBIs. Palmer went 3-for-4, driving in two.

Krutsinger, who faced adversity all day long pitched 5.2 innings, allowing 10 hits and seven runs. She walked one and struck out four.

“She was behind most of the game,” said Silvestrini of Krutsinger. “Even when we had the lead and they hit a grand slam, she battled and got the next out, to give us an opportunity to win. She trusted her offense and knew they were gonna score the runs that she needed.”  

The Panthers will be back to regional play on Wednesday, hosting the Caldwell University Cougars at 11:00 a.m. and the Kutztown Golden Bears at 1:30 p.m.

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