FIT Softball Wins In Late-Innings 6-3, Against St. Leo

By  //  March 30, 2015

Win Improves FIT to 29-11, 8-4 SSC

Florida-Tech-Softball-580-2
Taking advantage of a late offensive surge, Florida Tech softball (29-11, 8-4 SSC) pushed past Saint Leo (28-11, 4-8 SSC) Sunday afternoon at Nancy Bottge Field. With the 6-3 victory, the Panthers earned their first Sunshine State Conference series sweep of the season. (Photo by Amanda Stratford Photography)

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Taking advantage of a late offensive surge, Florida Tech softball (29-11, 8-4 SSC) pushed past Saint Leo (28-11, 4-8 SSC) Sunday afternoon at Nancy Bottge Field. With the 6-3 victory, the Panthers earned their first Sunshine State Conference series sweep of the season.

Saint Leo jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after the top of the first, plating a pair of unearned runs off of Rachel Pence.

The Panthers answered back with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning, with Nicole Miller smacking a two out single up the middle and Taylor Peterson smashing a double to right-center to earn the RBI.

After a Torrie Weindorf homer to left field in the second, FIT once again had an answer in the home half. Jessica Callahan singled through the left side and Elizabeth Eby followed with a single up the middle.

Brigit Godfrey
Brigit Godfrey

Brigit Godfrey came through with a clutch hit, lacing a single to left that allowed two runs to score. After the second inning the two teams were knotted up at 3-3.

With the innings piling up and the score remaining tied, the Panthers broke through in the sixth with three runs to take a 6-3 lead. Peterson led off the inning with a single to left center and Nicole Shinsky blooped a single to the opposite field in the next at-bat.

With one out in the inning, Ashley Montion delivered with a double over the head of the center fielder that scored Shinsky.

Kaci Kelley came home on a bunt single to the catcher by Callahan, who added an insurance run later in the inning on a wild pitch from Ashley Ehlers.

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With a 6-3 lead in hand, Taylor Smith slammed the door, retiring the Lions in order in the seventh. Smith replaced Pence in the sixth and didn’t allow a single base runner to earn her eighth victory of the year.

Pence took the no decision, allowing five hits and one earned run in her five innings of work.

The Panthers continue the season with a three game series with SSC foe Florida Southern in Lakeland, Florida.

The Panthers and Mocs will play a single game on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET and a doubleheader series capper Friday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.