Patterson, Pence Lead Panthers Over Lynn

Krista Patterson - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography

Krista Patterson hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning Friday and the Florida Tech Panthers never looked back, beating Lynn 8-3 in the opening game of the final series of the Panthers softball season.

Florida Tech (26-23, 11-11 SSC) earned 12 hits in this one, with Hailey Leonard, Alexus Smith, Makayla Palmer, Patterson and Kaitlin Buchholz all collecting two hits each.

Florida Tech pitcher Rachel Pence did give up 11 hits, but she minimized the damage, allowing just three runs. She struck out seven and did not walk a batter, in her 116 pitch, complete-game performance.

The Panthers got on the board first in the top of the third inning, against Fighting Knights starter Francais Olexa. Leonard led off the inning with a grounder to third that was misplayed and turned into a two-base error. One out later, Smith singled and the Panthers were up, 1-0.

Lynn (24-19, 10-9 SSC) were able to tie things up with a two-out rally and a lucky bounce. Karolina Flores hit a routine chopper to Karina Suicava at second base. She was set to field it, but the ball took a huge hop at the last second and what should have been the third out, instead was a triple. 

Victoria Rios then stepped up and fought Pence for 10 pitches, before hitting a single on the 11th pitch and tying the game at one. Rios would later score on a single by Erin Sundook, giving the home team a 2-1 lead.

Smith and Palmer tied the game up quickly in the fifth, hitting back-to-back doubles, tying the game at two. With Palmer at second, Patterson drove one high and deep over the wall in left-center, giving the Panthers a 4-2 lead.

Pence - Credit: James Ragan
Rios would get one run back in a hurry, leading off the bottom of the frame with a home run, cutting the Panthers lead to 4-3. That would be as close as the Fighting Knights would get, as the Panthers tacked on one more run in the sixth and three in the seventh.



Leonard started the sixth with a double and went to third on a Smith ground out. Palmer drew a walk and during Patterson’s at bat, she took off for second. The throw down allowed Leonard to take off for home and the throw there, went off the catcher’s glove and the run scored, making it 5-3. Leonard was credited with a steal of home and Palmer was safe at second. Patterson later popped out, ending the inning.

The Panthers secured the victory in the seventh, thanks to a two-run double by Kaitlin Buchholz. She was able to go to third on the throw home, that was not in time to get pinch-runner Amanda Kahn, upping the Panthers lead to 7-3. An RBI single off the bat of Leonard, brought Buchholz home with the Panthers final run.

For more info: Florida Tech @ Lynn Box Score

Pence (18-15) gave up a single to Rios in the seventh, capping a 4-for-4 day for the Lynn third baseman, but she was left stranded and the Panthers earned their third straight victory.

The series wraps up on Saturday, with a doubleheader, beginning at 1:00 p.m. That will also bring the Panthers 2017 season to a close.


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