Panthers Split Doubleheader at Florida Southern

Hailey Leonard - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography

The Florida Tech Panthers won the front end of a doubleheader with Florida Southern on Saturday, winning game one 3-2, but falling 10-2 in game two. The second game was called after five innings, thanks to the eight-run rule.

Amanda Kahn got the start in game one for the Panthers, facing Hannah Loyer and the two battled through four scoreless innings, to start the game.  Kahn did give up two singles in the second inning, but Makayla Deuberry grounded one to Krista Patterson at short, who started the inning-ending double play.

Kahn got out of more trouble in the third, after giving up a double and a single to start the inning, she got the next three batters in order.

Hailey Leonard finally got the Panthers offense started in the fourth with a double, but a strikeout and a double play, left her stranded. Florida Tech would get another chance in the top of the fifth and they would cash in.

Patterson doubled with one out and went to third on a wild pitch. After Vanessa Rubio walked, Julianna Goldberg pinch hit for Rachel Kraak and she drew a walk. The pitch got away, allowing Patterson to score and gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead. That spelled the end for Loyer, who gave way to Kristen Beacham. She struck out Kahn and got Karina Suicava to ground out, limiting the damage.

The lead was quickly extinguished by the Mocs in the bottom of the fifth. After Donna Ryan singled and was erased on a fielder’s choice, Desirae Klumpp hit one back to Kahn, who threw it away and she was promptly lifted from the game, in favor of Rachel Pence.

Pence got Shannon Bell to hit one to Kaitlin Buchholz in center and the ball was dropped, allowing both runs to score and giving Florida Southern a 2-1 lead.

Kahn went 4.1 innings, allowing two unearned runs on six hits. She walked one and did not record a strikeout, throwing 56 pitches (39 strikes). All that work resulted in a no-decision.

Florida Tech regained the lead in the top of the sixth. Katie Maiello drew a one out walk and went to second on a single by Alexus Smith. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and Patterson knocked them in with a two-run single up the middle.

Pence (16-14) then sent the final six batters she faced, down in order, striking out the final two. She earned the victory with 2.2 innings of relief. She struck out five of the nine batters she faced, throwing 25 of her 29 pitches for strikes.

Offensively, Leonard and Patterson finished with two hits each. Smith had the only other hit for the Panthers. Florida Southern was led by Ryan, who finished 2-for-3.

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

Game two was one to forget for the Panthers, who fell 10-2. Florida Tech starter McKenzie Krutsinger struggled, giving up six earned runs in 2.1 innings pitched. She walked one and did not strike out a batter, throwing 30 of her 49 pitches for strikes.

Florida Southern (14-21, 5-13 SSC) struck for two runs in the bottom of the second. Erica Morrissey had an RBI single and later scored on an error by Maiello in left field, as she tried to field a single off the bat of Zierra Flodman.

The big blow came on the bottom of the third. Bell and Morrissey hit back-to-back singles and one out later, Leah Pemberton drew a walk. That brought Alex Mace to the plate and she took a 1-0 pitch deep and out, over the centerfield wall, for a grand slam. That upped the Florida Southern lead to 6-0.

Krutsinger (1-3) was removed from the game after giving up the home run and gave way to Pence, who got out of the inning.

Pence gave up a long ball of her own in the fourth, as Flodman took her deep on a 2-2 pitch. It was a three-run big fly and made it a 9-0 game. The Mocs would add another on an RBI single by Ryan, before Pence got the final out of the frame.

The only bright spot for the Panthers came in the top of the fifth. Audrey Gangloff and Suicava started the inning with consecutive singles against Mocs starter Brandi Jones. That brought Leonard to the plate and she took a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left-center, making it a 10-2 game.

The Panthers (23-22, 8-10 SSC) needed another run to keep the game going, beyond the fifth, but they didn’t get it, as Jones struck out Maiello and Smith, to end the game.

Jones (3-10) allowed two runs on six hits in her complete-game effort. She threw 74 pitches, walking two and striking out two. In relief, Pence gave up four runs on five hits in 1.2 innings of work. She threw 47 pitches, 32 strikes.

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

Florida Tech won the series two games to one and will return home next Thursday, for the final home series of the season, against the Eckerd Tritons. Thursday’s game will start at 3:00 p.m., with a doubleheader on Friday, beginning at 1:00 p.m.

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