Smith, Leonard Go Back-to-Back in Panthers Win

Alexus Smith - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography

After hitting home runs in separate innings in game one, Alexus Smith and Hailey Leonard went back-to-back in game two, helping the Florida Tech Panthers to a 5-3 win over Palm Beach Atlantic and a split of a Saturday doubleheader at Nancy Bottge Field.

Smith had two of the Panthers four hits in the contest and scored two runs.

“This was big,” said Panthers coach Val Silvestrini. “I feel like we’re getting better in conference play and getting used to this series now.”

As they did in game one, the Sailfish drew first blood in game two. Alexis Guerra led off with a double against Panthers starter Amanda Kahn. She later scored on a double by Magnolia West, giving the visitors an early 1-0 lead.

Florida Tech (16-17) got that run back in the bottom of the third, against Palm Beach Atlantic starter Ashton Adkins. Smith started things with a single and Leonard was hit by a pitch. Krista Patterson hit into a fielder’s choice at second, erasing Leonard, but Smith got to third. That brought Makayla Palmer to the plate and she fouled out to right field, but the ball was deep enough to score the tying run.

Palm Beach Atlantic (16-12) would answer in the top of the fourth, with an unearned run. Brianna Skipper reached on a throwing error to start the inning and she would later score on a single off the bat of Shelby Wood, giving PBA a 2-1 lead.

Vanessa Rubio started the Panthers half of the inning with a walk, she was then lifted for pinch-runner Audrey Gangloff. One out later, Kaitlin Buchholz drew a walk, putting runners at first and second. 

After Karina Suicava moved Gangloff to third with a sac fly, Smith put a charge into one, sending deep over the center field wall and giving the Panthers a 4-2 lead. That was it for Adkins, who got the hook in favor of game one winner, Nikki Brinegar.

Hailey Leonard - Photo credit: James Ragan
The Panthers dugout had barely stopped celebrating the Smith long ball, when Leonard took Brinegar
deep right-center, upping the Panthers lead to 5-2.

Kahn (5-4) did not return to the circle in the fifth, giving way to McKenzie Krutsinger. Kahn allowed just two runs (one earned) on six hits, over her four innings. She struck out one and did not walk a batter.

Krutsinger was on her game, as she retired the first eight batters she faced. With two outs in the top of the seventh, Palm Beach Atlantic head coach Kimmy Bloemers called on Loren Kilgore, to pinch hit. It proved to be the right move, as she took Krutsinger deep and out, making it a 5-3 game.

Silvestrini, not wanting Krutsinger to get into further trouble, called on Rachel Pence to close things out. She allowed a single to Guerra, but got Maddie Bertisch to ground out, ending the game. With that, Pence picked up her second save of the year.

“She had thrown against everyone in the lineup,” said Silvestrini, of Krutsinger. “We felt we needed to switch it up, so that’s when we brought Rachel in.”

For more info: Palm Beach Atlantic @ Florida Tech Box Score (Game 2)

The Panthers will hit the road Friday for a big weekend series with Rollins, in Winter Park. This is a big series for the Panthers if they have any post season hopes in the Sunshine State Conference.

“We always battle with Rollins, so I expect the same,” said Silvestrini. “We need to start doing a better job in our games on the road and that’s gonna be a good challenge for us.”

The series will start with a 6:00 p.m. game on Friday and wrap up with a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 1:00 p.m.


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