Panthers 13-Game Softball Win Streak Ends

By  //  March 25, 2013

FIT Hosts St. Leo On Thursday

BOCA RATON, FLORIDA – Florida Tech won its third straight Sunshine State Conference series after taking game one of Sunday’s doubleheader over Lynn, but its 13-game win streak ended with a loss in the series finale at Lynn Softball Field.

Florida Tech freshman outfielder Elaine Brown has now stolen 17 bases in 22 attempts this softball season. (Image courtesy of Florida Tech)

The win streak was the program’s longest since it won 17 consecutive games in 2006.

The Panthers (22-13, 9-3) beat the Fighting Knights (17-16, 3-6) in game one, winning 9-1 in five innings.

In game two, Lynn used a seven-run second inning to prevail 10-4. Although they split the doubleheader, they are tied with Barry and Rollins for first place in the SSC.

“We played hard as usual today,” head coach Val Silvestrini said. “In the second game, we had one bad inning where we gave away too many runs and it was hard to come back. Overall, we had a great pitching performance from Amanda Smith and hit the ball well.”

Amanda Smith, who earned the win in Saturday’s series opener, started both games of the doubleheader. She surrendered just three hits, one hit was a solo home run, in five innings of game one. Before she toed the rubber, she had the luxury of working behind a 2-0 lead on Lindsy Dugan’s team-leading fifth home run of the season.

Taylor Peterson scored on the long drive and led off the third and fourth innings by reaching base. She scored both times on back-to-back doubles by Ashley Montion. Brooke Smith connected on a double in the third to bring in the Panthers’ last two runs of the inning. She then stroked a two-run single to left-center field in the fourth to finish 2-for-3 with four RBIs.

FIT’s first through seven hitters accounted for all 12 hits, while its four through seven hitters had all nine RBIs. Elaine Brown, Dugan, Montion, Amanda Bueno and Brooke Smith had two hits each to lead FIT.

Amanda Smith (15-5) pitched all five innings and struck out six. Brown was 2-for-2 in stolen bases and has swiped 17-of-22 stolen bases this season.

In game two, the Panthers jumped out to a 1-0 lead just two batters into the game on a double by Kara Dickinson, which scored Brown.

After the first out was recorded in the second inning, Lynn sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs on four hits, all were singles, and six walks.

Trailing 9-1 in the fifth, FIT cut its deficit to five by scoring three runs. One run came in on the second of three doubles by Dickinson. She finished the game 3-for-4 and now has 13 doubles this season.

Smith (15-6) received the loss in game two.

The Panthers will look to start a new win streak on Thursday when they welcome Saint Leo to Nancy Bottge Field for a three-game SSC series.

Game one of the series will begin at 3 p.m. The second and third games are set for Friday starting at 1 p.m.