Panthers Drop Doubleheader at Lynn to End 2017 Season

Makayla Palmer - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography

Following their convincing win on Friday night in the series opener, the Florida Tech Panthers had the momentum going into Saturday’s season ending doubleheader. The Fighting Knights took control with four runs in the first inning of game one and they kept it, winning 9-2 and 2-0.

Florida Tech was poised to jump in front in game one, when Hailey Leonard doubled to lead off the game. Katie Maiello followed with a single, but right fielder Madison White came up throwing and she cut down Leonard at the plate. Maiello went to second on the play, but she was stranded there.

Florida Tech starting pitcher Amanda Kahn got through the first couple innings, but the third inning started with a fly ball off the bat of Shayle Arenson to Makayla Palmer in right field, Palmer dropped the ball and that put in motion a four-run frame, highlighted by a two-run single by Mackenzie Wyatt.

The Panthers (26-25, 11-13 SSC) would get a run back in the top of the fourth, against Lynn starter Katelyn Key. With two outs, Krista Patterson walked and Vanessa Rubio chased her to third with a double. Julianna Goldberg then hit one to first, that was misplayed by Erin Sundook, allowing Patterson to score and making it a 4-1 game.

Lynn added two runs in the fifth on a two-run home run by Victoria Rios and Palmer answered with a solo shot in the top of the sixth. It was her second home run of the season, coming with one out in the frame. That made it 6-2, but that was as close as the Panthers would get.

Wyatt’s two-run single highlighted a three-run sixth for Lynn, capping her 3-for-4, four RBI day. Leonard ended her day 2-for-4. She was the only Florida Tech player with a multi-hit day.

Kahn (7-6) allowed nine runs (six earned) in six innings of work. She did not walk a batter and did not record a strikeout. She threw 85 pitches.

For more info: Florida Tech @ Lynn Box Score (Game 1)

Game two saw the Panther manage just two hits, both off the bat of senior Audrey Gangloff. Her first hit came in the fourth inning on a swinging bunt and she hit a ball in the fifth that went over 
Lynn pitcher Kayla Sheffield’s head in the sixth inning and she beat it out.

Audrey Gangloff - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography

Sheffield, who went the distance for the Fighting Knights did her part at the plate as well, hitting her first career home run in the bottom of the second, against Florida Tech starter McKenzie Krutsinger. The second Lynn run came in the bottom of the fourth, on a Sundook RBI single.

Krutsinger left the game in that bottom of the fourth, with the bases loaded. She gave way to senior Rachel Pence, who got Francais Olexa to ground out, ending the inning without further damage.

Krutsinger (1-4) allowed two runs on seven hits, in 3.2 innings. She threw 50 pitches, before giving way to Pence. Making the final appearance of her Florida Tech career, Pence took care of the final 2.1 innings, allowing two hits and striking out two. She threw 30 pitches.

Sheffield allowed just the two hits in her complete-game performance. She walked two and struck out one, throwing 99 pitches.

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

That brings the 2017 Florida Tech softball season to an end. I want to take the time to thank all the players, along with coaches Val Silvestrini and Sean Cotter for allowing me to cover this team and for the interviews throughout the season.


This blog is an extension of our website - Sportslowdown.com
Follow us on Twitter @sports_lowdown

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Florida Tech Men’s Soccer Falls to Tampa

Image
The Tampa Spartans spoiled Senior Night in Melbourne, beating Florida Tech 3-1 in a Sunshine State Conference Men’s Soccer match on Saturday. The Panthers had their chances throughout the contest, firing 20 shots (11 on goal) in the loss, with 16 of those coming in the second half. Tampa (9-3-2, 4-3-1 SSC) jumped in front when Mike Ciluffo went one-on-one in the box, beat the defender and then beat Panthers’ goaltender Christian Moerch, giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead 13:25 into the match. The goal was one of eight shots Tampa took in the first half. Florida Tech (8-3-1, 5-3 SSC) did not have a shot on goal in the first half and took just four shots total. This was unfamiliar territory for the Panthers, who usually get off a good number of shots in each half. Credit to Tampa’s defense for shutting down the Panthers offensive attack in the first 45 minutes.   The Spartans scored the eventual game winner just 2:12 into the second half, off the foot of Jake Winship, gi
Read more

Panthers Snake-Bitten by Turnovers at UWA

Image
The Florida Tech Panthers and West Alabama Tigers put on an offensive show in their Gulf South Conference meeting on Saturday, with the Tigers coming out on top, 45-35. With the loss, the Panthers will likely have to win all three of their remaining games, to make the playoffs. In our conversation with Panthers head coach Steve Englehart on Thursday, he was adamant that if the Panthers won the turnover battle , they would win the game. Unfortunately, the visitors lost four of their five fumbles, including one on the final play of the third quarter that resulted in a scoop and score for West Alabama. This was an 0ld-fashioned shootout from the start, with the teams combining for 1,147 yards of total offense. The Panthers had 643 yards, setting a school record and Quarterback Mark Cato passed for 502 yards, also a school record. On just about any other day, those numbers would translate into a win, but on this day, the turnovers kept that from happening. “You’re not goi
Read more

FIT Women’s Soccer Falls 3-2 at Tampa

Image
The Florida Tech Women’s Soccer team dropped their final conference match of the season on Saturday night, as they were beaten by the Tampa Spartans 3-2, at Pepin Stadium. The Spartans only took three shots in the first half, but one of them found the back of the net, when Nastasia Asgedom took a crossing pass from Gabby Scirica in the box and rifled it by Panthers goaltender Karlyn Prisco , giving the home squad a 1-0 lead. It took just 2:45 for the Panthers to get the equalizer when Senior Aubri Williamson beat Spartans keeper Caroline Frykgard. Those were the only goals scored by either team in the first 45 minutes and the teams went to the locker room tied 1-1. Tampa (6-7-2) dented the scoreboard again 10:54 into the second half when Sarah Raymond found Ali Robinson with a crossing pass and Robinson headed it past Prisco, giving Tampa their second lead of the contest, 2-1. The Panthers (9-5, 4-5 SSC) even things up again in the 76 th minute when Lauren Bolhuis
Read more