Sports Lowdown

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 ...

Rachel Pence - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography After a dominant 13-3 win in game one, The Florida Tech Panthers completed a doubleheader sweep of Eckerd on Friday, with a 5-1 victory in game two. Florida Tech ace Rachel Pence went the distance in her final home start for Florida Tech, striking out seven batters, allowing two hits and walking only one. It was an emotional day for Pence, who, along with six of her teammates, was honored as part of Senior Day, just before the second game got underway. “I was concerned with how our seniors were going to do right after the senior ceremony,” said Florida Tech coach Val Silvestrini. “They get emotional and we don’t have a lot of time to get ready for the game, but they did a great job.” The only run Pence allowed was unearned, in the first inning. Crystal Garcia hit an infield single to start the game and two batters later, Nikole Van Gennep hit one to Hailey Leonard at first. The hit off her glove and she reco...

Makayla Palmer - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography The Saint Leo Lions (34-7, 15-3 SSC) finished off a mid-week series sweep of the Florida Tech Panthers on Thursday at Nancy Bottge Field, with an 11-0 victory in five innings. This follows Wednesday’s doubleheader victory , that saw the Lions win 11-3 and 7-0. Saint Leo starter Stephanie Adkins (19-3) held the Panthers to five hits in her five-inning complete-game. Florida Tech starter Rachel Pence (14-13) sent the first six Lions down in order, before running into trouble in the third. Michelle George singled to start the inning and Alyssa Wash followed with a bunt in front of the plate. She was safe at first and with no one covering third, George was safe there on a heads-up play. A stolen base by Wash gave the Lions runners at second and third. After Pence struck out Sommer Pollard, she walked Kacie Kelly intentionally. Bailey McKenna struck out and it looked like Pence may get out of the inning. Ciera Schum...

Karina Suicava - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography The Florida Tech softball team got off to a good start on Saturday, beating Nova Southeastern 10-2 in game one of a doubleheader. The game was called in the fifth inning, due to the eight-run rule. They completed the sweep in game two, with a 4-1 win. Krista Patterson drilled a three-run home run in the fifth inning. The Sharks, who won Friday’s series opener 2-0, got off to a good start in this one. Dana Edmundson hit her second leadoff home run in as many days, against Panthers starter Rachel Pence . Florida Tech got that run back on a fielder’s choice by Makayla Palmer , allowing Alexus Smith to score. Smith singled to start the inning. Edmundson got to Pence again, leading off the third, with another solo home run. It was her second of the day and third of the series. Thankfully for the Panthers all her damage was done with nobody on base in front of her. That made it 2-1. That lead didn’t last long, as F...

Amanda Kahn - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography The Florida Tech Panthers were back at it Saturday afternoon, wrapping up their three-game series with Rollins College. The Panthers, who came away with a 3-1 win on Friday, completed the series sweep with a 2-0 win in game one and a 6-5 victory in game two. The Panthers needed these wins badly, as they have struggled early in Sunshine State Conference play. They were 1-5 going into the weekend and suddenly, they are just one game below .500 in the conference. Amanda Kahn and Rachel Pence were the Panthers pitchers for the day, each picking up a win and a save on the day. Kahn (6-4) pitched well in game one, giving up two hits in her 4.2 innings of work. She walked two and struck out two, throwing 66 pitches, 44 for strikes. Her team gave her all the support she needed in the top of the first. Alexus Smith started things with a single, against Rollins starter Grace Street. She was out at second on a field...

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 ...

Hailey Leonard went 2-for-3 in game 1 - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography It is odd to call a game that had a 4-3 final score a slugfest, but when the game features four home runs, including the game winner, it seems appropriate. That was the situation Florida Tech softball was in Saturday, as they came up on the short end, in game one of a doubleheader against Palm Beach Atlantic. “We battled,” said Panthers coach Val Silvestrini. “I thought both teams played well, but we just need to do the little things better.” PBA (16-11) struck first, against Panthers starter Rachel Pence . Kayla Knight started off the top of the second with a single and later scored on a two-bagger by Michaela Hynes. The top of the third would produce one more run for the Sailfish, but it probably should have been more Maddie Bertisch started the inning with what seemed to be an innocent pop to short. The ball went off the glove of Krista Patterson and Bertisch inexplicably rounded th...

Karina Suicava - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography Florida Tech softball won its fourth consecutive game Friday afternoon, taking down the visiting Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish by the score of 8-1, in the opener of a three-game series. “We played really well in all three areas, pitching offense and defense,” said Panthers coach Val Silvestrini. “That was going to be our challenge for this year and I’m really proud of the way we played today.” The Panthers used home runs from Julianna Goldberg and Karina Suicava , along with a stellar pitching performance from Rachel Pence , who allowed just three hits and struck out seven en route to her 10 th win of the season. “She did awesome, it’s all about her hitting her spots and having the right spin,” said Panthers coach Val Silvestrini, of Pence. “I think she’s doing a much better job lately with that and she called a great game.” Florida Tech (15-16) got to Sailfish starter Ashton Adkins early, scoring three ru...

Rachel Pence - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography Florida Tech got their second win of the day on Wednesday, in convincing fashion, beating Kutztown University 5-2. Rachel Pence , who earned a no-decision in the Panthers 5-4 win over the Caldwell Cougars in the morning game, came back with a complete game three hitter in game two. Pence (9-9) has had her struggles this year and their game been times her defense has let her down, but in this game, Pence was on top of her game, striking out seven, to go along with the six she had in game one. She only gave up one hit in the first six innings. Sara Keeny laid down a bunt single. That was long after the Panthers offense gave Pence a nice cushion. Florida Tech (14-16) got on the board in the bottom of the first. Katie Maiello drew a one out walk and came home on a Krista Patterson double. Patterson then scored when Makayla Palmer reached on an error, giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead. The Panthers added to the lead i...

After a back-and-forth affair between Barry and Florida Tech in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader, the teams put on one heck of an encore, with Florida Tech pulling out a 14-13 victory at Nancy Bottge Field and earning a much-needed split. “That’s something I’m really proud of, these kids keep battling and never quit,” said Panthers coach Val Silvestrini after the game. “We had to come back in several situations.” A single by Hailey Leonard in the bottom of the seventh, drove in the 27 th run of the game and capped off over four hours of baseball between the two games.  The victory meant the Panthers avoided a sweep and more importantly, gave them their first conference win of the season. Things did not start well for Florida Tech, as Barry got an unearned run against starter Amanda Kahn , when shortstop Krista Patterson dropped a ball that would’ve ended the inning. After a fielder’s choice kept the inning going, Kahn got Avery Cotterill, swinging to end the ...

The University of Alabama in Huntsville scored six runs in the first inning on Monday, propelling the home team to a 7-1 victory over Florida Tech. UAH is ranked 16 th nationally and they showed why, scoring four runs against Panthers starter Rachel Pence , who faced six batters and only retiring one. UAH starter Tyler Harrison was in control from the start, going the distance and allowing one run on five hits. She struck out nine and did not walk a batter, throwing 117 pitches. She handed the Panthers their eighth straight loss. Haley Thompson started the game with a single and that was followed by back-to-back home runs by Kaitlyn Bannister and Taylor Wascavage. After an error allowed Harrison to reach, the Panthers recorded an out on a fielder’s choice. It was a short reprieve, because Reagan Malone doubled in another run, giving the Chargers a 4-0 lead. That was the end of the day for Pence (7-7), who pitched 0.1 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hi...

The Embry-Riddle Eagles took advantage of three Florida Tech errors on Friday night, en route to a 5-1 softball victory. Makayla Palmer went 2-for-3, while Alexus Smith , Julianna Goldberg and Audrey Gangloff had the other three Florida Tech hits against Embry-Riddle pitcher Illona Andringa. Andringa went the distance, giving up one run and striking out eight. Eryn Chester got things started for the Eagles in the top of the first, with a single up the middle against Florida Tech starter Rachel Pence. Maggie Scott would single later in the inning, bringing Chester home with the first run. A throwing error, coupled with a failed pickoff attempt, resulted in two more runs for the Eagles and a 3-0 lead. Embry-Riddle (5-10) would tack on two more in the bottom of the third. Chester led off with a single and scored on a double by Anna Battison. Scott would bring her home with a sacrifice fly to left, giving the home team a commanding 5-0 lead. Florida Tech (10-9) got ...

The Florida Tech softball team split a doubleheader with Valdosta State on Tuesday, winning game one 11-2, before dropping the second game 6-5. The Panthers did all their damage in two of the five innings played in the first game, pounding out 13 hits. Alexus Smith finished game one 3-for-4 and the Karina Suicava , who has done a great job in the nine spot for the Panthers in the early going, finishing 3-for-3 on Tuesday, with two RBIs. Rachel Pence (7-2) gave up five hits in her five innings of work, with both Valdosta State runs coming in the first inning. She walked two and did not strike out a batter. Blazers pitcher Avery Lamb went the first three innings, with the Panthers exploding for seven runs in the top of the third. Suicava and Smith singled and Krista Patterson drew a walk to load the bases. Vanessa Rubio doubled in two, tying the game and the Panthers were off and running. Hailey Leonard ’s RBI ground out made it 3-2 and Makayla Palmer had an RBI...

The Armstrong State Pirates got their second win over the Florida Tech Panthers in about two weeks, as the visitors scored a 4-3 victory Sunday, in the Florida Tech Marriott Brawl at the Beach tournament. Sierra Peebles (5-0), who was fresh off a no-hitter on Saturday against East Stroudsburg, was back in the circle Sunday and the Panthers got to her early, scoring twice in the bottom of the third. Karina Suicava singled, extending her hitting streak to eight games. Alexus Smith then grounded one to third, that was fired over the head of the second baseman and into right field. Suicava scored on the play and Smith made it all the way to third. Krista Patterson then hit a sac fly, giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead. Florida Tech starter Rachel Pence kept the Pirates off the board until the fifth inning, when Tazha Williams sent one over the wall, cutting the lead in half, 2-1. It was quite a turnaround for the Pirates, who had a rare unsportsmanlike conduct warning issu...

The Florida Tech softball team sent 15 batters to the plate in the fourth inning Saturday, scoring 11 runs in the frame and beating Stonehill 14-3, in a game that went four and a half innings before being called. Amanda Kahn pitched four innings, to secure the win. The Panthers (9-3) pounded out 11 hits in the romp, led by Karina Suicava who went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Makayla Palmer drove in three runs as well. Suicava got things started in the bottom of the second with a bases loaded single off Skyhawks starter Jennifer Mayette. Rachel Kraak , Audrey Gangloff and Alexus Smith all had hits in the inning. A wild pitch scored Smith with the third run of the inning. Stonehill (0-3) got two runs back in the top of the third inning, both unearned against Kahn. Erin Brayden drove the runs in with a single. Taylor Whaley followed that with a single, but Kraak threw Brayden out at the plate, ending the inning. The Skyhawks did tie the game ...

The Marriott Brawl at the Beach tournament got off to a great start for Florida Tech softball team Friday, as they beat East Stroudsburg 9-1. The game was called in the bottom of the sixth, as the eight-run rule kicked in. Amanda Khan went the distance for the Panthers on the mound, allowing one run on five hits, walking one and striking out one. She got a rare at-bat in a pinch-hitting role in the sixth inning and drew a walk. Mary Wallick started in the circle for the Warriors and immediately ran into trouble not of her own doing. Florida Tech (8-3) got two runs in the bottom of the first on an absolute gift. Alexus Smith started the inning with a double, her first of three hits on the day. One out later Hailey Leonard hit one to short that was fielded cleanly, but the throw to second to keep Smith there, was thrown wide and into right field. The ball then got by the fielder, allowing not only Smith, but Leonard to score. With that, the Panthers were up 2-0. ...