Sports Lowdown

Florida Tech finished the NFCA Division II Leadoff Classic Sunday afternoon, taking down Georgia College, by the score of 6-5. The Panthers finished the tournament with a record of 4-1, with their only loss coming to Texas A&M-Commerce on Sunday morning. Florida Tech pounded out 13 hits, led by Hailey Leonard 's 3-for-4 day. Alexus Smith (home run), Vanessa Rubio and Karina Suicava all had multi-hit days. The Panthers carried a 6-4 lead into the seventh inning, but the Bobcats mounted a two-out rally, against Florida Tech starter Rachel Pence , scoring twice before Faith Flanders to flied out with the tying run at second, to end the game. Georgia College got to Pence in the top of the third. Amber Coy singled driving in two runs and Flanders had an RBI single, giving her team a 3-0 lead. Florida Tech (7-3) closed the gap in the bottom of the inning, getting to Georgia College starter Kayla Price, for two runs. Smith started the inning with a double. Afte...

The Florida Tech softball team entered the final day of the NFCA Division II Leadoff Classic undefeated, but the Lions of Texas A&M-Commerce changed that, with a 9-4 victory over the Panthers. The Lions scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, turning a 3-2 deficit into an 8-3 lead and they never looked back. Alexus Smith and Vanessa Rubio both went 2-for4 at the plate for FIT.   Makayla Palmer was 2-for-3. Texas A &M-Commerce got on the board in the bottom of the second against Florida Tech starter Amanda Kahn . After being hit by a pitch, Vanessa Avina got to second on a ground out and stole third. She came home on home on a ground out by December Rivers. The Panthers answered in the top of the third, putting a run in the board against Lions starter Kinsie Hebler. Krista Patterson drew a walk and went to third on a double by Smith. A sac fly by Hailey Leonard tied things up, 1-1. The Panthers (6-3) struck for two in the top of the fourth...

The Florida Tech Panthers got their second win of the day on Saturday, a 3-2 victory over Central Missouri. Rachel Pence, who got the win in game one against Wayne State, picked up her first save of the season in game two. McKenzie Krutsinger , who hasn’t pitched since opening day , got the start in game two, giving up one run on two hits in 2.2 innings of work. She struck out one and did not walk a batter and improved her record to 1-1 in the process. Florida Tech got on the board first in the top of the first, against Central Missouri starter Alexa Bradley. With two outs, Hailey Leonard was hit by a pitch and immediately stole second. Vanessa Rubio then reached on an error. The miscue brought Leonard home. Makayla Palmer followed with a single, chasing Rubio home and giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead. Central Missouri got in the board in the bottom of the second, thanks to a double by Katie Giacone but the Panthers answered with a run in the top of the third. Leonar...