Panther Softball Spilts Doubleheader Against No. 19 Barry
By Zach Clark // April 19, 2015
Florida Tech moved to 33-15 on the season
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Florida Tech softball (33-15, 12-8 SSC) and No. 19 Barry (30-13, 14-6 SSC) butted heads in a pair of close games with each team taking one of the two contests for a doubleheader split Saturday afternoon at Nancy Bottge Field.
Both pitchers were superb through regulation in the opening game but the Buccaneers were able to string together some hits in the eighth inning on Rachel Pence, knocking off the Panthers 6-1.
Julie Brito got the Bucs on the board early, doubling to left to bring home Alayna Gallagher. Pence responded to the early threat, getting the final two outs to strand a pair of runners in scoring position.
The Panthers struck back in the third, knotting the game at 1-1.
Audrey Gangloff led off the frame reaching on an error by Kristina Pazienza at first. Gangloff was moved to second by a sacrifice bunt by Elizabeth Eby, bringing up Brigit Godfrey. That’s when Godfrey delivered, sending a single up the middle into center field to bring the game level.
The score would remain the same into extra innings, when things started to unravel for Pence and the Panthers.
The first six Barry batters registered a hit in the inning, spearheaded by a Gallagher three run inside-the-park home run down the left field line to give the Bucs the lead.
In all, Barry scored five times in the frame.
Hailey Wiseman rounded out her marvelous outing by retiring FIT in order in the eighth to garner the win for the Bucs. Wiseman allowed just a single hit in the game, resulting in one unearned run.
Pence was equally impressive for most of the game. Prior to the eighth, the sophomore allowed a single run on four hits. Freshman Amanda Kahn came on in relief in the eighth, tossing a scoreless inning to lower her ERA to 0.83 on the season.
The Panthers got their revenge in the second game, though it took some adventurous running on the base paths to defeat Barry 1-0.
FIT came close early, advancing a runner to third base in each of the first three innings.
Elaine Brown reached on an error by Ashley Fernandez at shortstop in the first frame. She advanced on a stolen base and wild pitch but a Nicole Shinsky groundout ended the threat.
In the second, Ashley Montion walked to lead off the inning and stole second. A Gangloff single to left put runners at the corners but Montion was doubled off at third to end the affair when Eby popped up her suicide bunt attempt to Wiseman.
Nicole Miller pounded a double to right-center in the third but was thrown out at the plate attempting to score on a single to right by Taylor Peterson.
The Bucs also put a runner in scoring position in the second, third and fourth innings but were unable to capitalize on any of the chances.
Taylor Sabol replaced Wiseman in the fourth inning and was nearly as dominant, allowing just three hits all game.
With the pitching for both squads in excellent form, it was going to take something special to separate the two teams.
That’s exactly what the Panthers provided in the sixth. Peterson began the inning with a sharp single up the middle, advancing to second when Shinsky walked in the next at bat.
Montion put runners at the corners, lofting a sac fly to center that gave Peterson ample time to move to third. FIT decided to use some deception to break the tie as Shinsky took off for second and allowed herself to get hung up.
Fernandez alertly threw home once Peterson broke for the plate but the senior from Temecula, California was able to avoid the Dee Espinosa tag and touch home plate.
Taylor Smith, who had given Barry fits all game, slammed the door shut in the seventh with a 1-2-3 inning.
The Ponte Vedra, Florida native tossed a complete game shutout, giving up three hits and a pair of walks.
FIT and Barry will settle the series tomorrow back at Nancy Bottge Field.
The game, which will begin at noon ET, will have live video, audio and stats available at FloridaTechSports.com/live
