Saint Leo Tames Florida Tech in Doubleheader


Karina Suicava - Photo credit: James Ragan
The Florida Tech softball team has been playing well as of late, but they ran into a buzz saw on Wednesday, losing to the fifth-ranked Saint Leo Lions 11-3 in game one and 7-0 in game two.

The first game was picked up in the top of the first, after lightning forced the game to be suspended on Tuesday. With the sweep, the Lions run their win streak to 10 in a row, while Florida Tech had won two in a row.

In game one, Saint Leo got on the board in the top of the second, when Alyssa Wash had an RBI double against Florida Tech starter Rachel Pence. The Lions would break things open in the third, with a seven-run outburst.

After Karina Suicava made a great diving catch to rob Rachel Heath of a hit to start the inning, Pence walked Ciera Schumaker and Samantha Ohmie. After Brittany Creamer singled to load the bases. A walk and a hit by pitch made it 3-0 and after Pence got Wash on strikes, an RBI fielder’s choice by Sommer Pollard and a two-run infield single by Kacie Kelly made it 6-0.

That was the end of the day for Pence (14-12), who threw 69 pitches, (42 strikes), in her 2.2 innings of work. She allowed five earned runs, walking three and striking out three. McKenzie Krutsinger took over in the circle.

An error by Krista Patterson at short allowed two more runs to score and just like that, it was 8-0. It was a tough play for Patterson, who dove and fielded the ball, unfortunately, she couldn’t get the ball out of her glove to make a throw to second. Those two runs were charged to Pence. When all was said, and done, the Lions sent 12 batters to the plate, scoring seven runs on four hits.

The Panthers got on the scoreboard in the fourth, when Patterson led off with a home run, against Saint Leo starter Stephanie Adkins (18-3). She would also allow a single to Makayla Palmer, and she was done after four innings. She allowed one run on three hits, before giving way to Sara Neuman, to start the fifth.

Saint Leo would tack on three more runs in the top of the fifth against Krutsinger, making it 11-1. 

Florida Tech made a last gasp effort in the bottom of the frame. Hailey Leonard walked to start the inning and Rachel Kraak earned a free pass two outs later. They both came home on a Kaitlin Buchholz single to center, making it 11-3. Audrey Gangloff singled to keep the inning alive, but Suicava, who broke up the no-hit bid by Adkins with a single in the third, grounded out to end the game.

The Panthers were out hit in the contest, 11-5. Kelly, Creamer and Wash each had a two-hit game for the Lions.

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

Saint Leo 33-7, 14-13 SSC) kept their hitting cleats on in game two, racking up 16 hits in a 7-0 shutout of the Panthers (21-20, 6-8 SSC).

Lions starter Alison Mitts (9-3) was in control from the outset, holding the Panthers to just three hits, going the distance in the process. She struck four and didn’t walk a batter. Suicava, who ended Adkins hopes of no-hitter in game one, played dream killer again in game two, breaking up the perfect game bid by Mitts, with a single in the fourth.

Amanda Kahn (6-5) got the start for Florida Tech and as has been the case on multiple occasions this season, she had an error behind her early, leading to a 1-0 deficit in the first inning. Saint Leo tacked on three more in the second inning, with Wash scoring on the front end of a double steal to make it 2-0.

RBI singles by Kelly and Schumaker made it 4-0 and they would tack on three more in the fifth, highlighted by a two-run homer off the bat of Wash. After Sommer Pollard tripled, Kahn was relieved by Krutsinger. Kelly would greet her with an RBI single, putting the visitors up 7-0.

Six of the seven runs Kahn allowed were earned. She gave up 12 hits in her 4.2 innings of work, allowing 12 hits. She threw 65 pitches, while Krutsinger followed up her 3.1 innings of work in game one, with 2.1 innings in game two.

Krutsinger did not allow a walk or earn a strikeout in game two. She threw 29 pitches to finish game two, after throwing 71 (45 strikes) in game one.

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

These two teams will be back at it on Thursday, as they play the final game of the series. This is the make-up game from Tuesday’s postponement. First pitch is scheduled for noon.


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