Florida Tech Panthers Sports Roundup

Panthers Return to SSC Action at Rollins

MEN’S LACROSSE – Florida Tech (2-7, 0-2 SSC) searches for its first ever Sunshine State Conference victory on Saturday, March 29 at 7 p.m. against Rollins College (5-4, 1-1 SSC) at Barker Family Stadium. In the meeting, Florida Tech went a man down just three minutes into the contest to give Rollins an opportunity to strike first. But the Panthers killed off the minute-long penalty and responded five minutes later with a goal.

Christian Isola netted his third goal of the season to give FIT a 1-0 lead with 7:06 remaining in the first quarter. Bacarella set up Isola for the game’s first goal. In the second quarter, FIT scored four unanswered goals to take a 6-1 halftime lead. The Panthers held Rollins to just three second-quarter shots. The Panthers pushed their lead to 8-2 to begin the third quarter on goals by Andrew Conley and Mike Marshner. But then the Tars put  together an offensive attack. Eric Biller recorded seven saves in the win over the Tars.

CJ Nichols is fourth in the conference in points/game with 2.33 and his 21 goals are tops among all Panthers. The University of Mount Olive (9-1) came out hot and scored 11 goals in the first half en route to a 16-5 win over Florida Tech (2-7) on Sunday afternoon at Amon Field. Nick Wynne finished with three goals and two assists, and Marshner added two goals as the Panthers split their North Carolina road trip.

Jordan Carlock caused three turnovers to lead the Panthers but despite causing 14 turnovers as a team, FIT was down 8-0 before scoring its first goal of the game. The Trojans, a second year program receiving votes in the latest United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Poll, were led by goalkeeper Ross Bowman, who recorded 11 saves and a goal on a fast break after a save.

Severin Windsor, Mike Cherry, Stuart Nystrom, and Nichols each forced two turnovers. The hat trick was Wynne’s first as a Panther.

FIT returns to Melbourne Central Catholic’s Hustler Stadium for its senior day, Saturday, April 5 at 7 p.m. Prior to the game, senior Evan Ryan will be honored for his contribution to the men’s lacrosse program. Ryan will become the first player in the school’s brief lacrosse history to commit three seasons for Florida Tech.

Saint Leo Opens Series with a 6-3 Victory Over the Panthers

BASEBALL – The Florida Tech Panthers returned to Sunshine State Conference play Friday night, as they opened a three-game series against Saint Leo. The Panthers were looking to open the series with a win, but the Lions were able to pick up the game one victory 6-3.

The Lions (17-12, 1-6 SSC) opened the scoring in the top of the first. Dylan Harris brought home Taylor Perez with a base hit up the middle. The Panthers countered in the bottom of the second with a run of their own. Senior Jimmie Koch tied the game with a home run over the fence in right field. The homer was the third of the week and season for Koch.

Saint Leo came back in the third with two runs. Harris drove in another run, and Chris Newcomb brought home a second, which gave the Lions a 3-1 advantage.

Once again the Panthers (19-13, 3-7 SSC) answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Kevin Wortman brought home Koch from second with a single up the middle.

The Lions’ offense jumped right back on the board in the fifth. Fran Whitten hit a solo home run down the left-field line. Bobby Twitty added another long ball for the Lions in the eighth inning, as Saint Leo took a 6-2 lead.

The Panthers tried to rally in the bottom of the eighth. Junior David Johannessen brought home sophomore Austin Allen with base hit to left. The run made it a 6-3 game, but that is as close as the Panthers would get.

Junior Ashton Fronsoe (2-3) was hit with the loss for the Panthers. Fronsoe pitched six innings, gave up five runs on 11 hits, and struck out two. Koch led the offense for the Panthers going 3-for-4 with a home run, and was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. Wortman finished 3-for-3 at the plate for the Panthers with a RBI.

Michael Dunnigan (5-2) earned the win for the Lions. Dunnigan pitched 7.1 innings, gave up three runs on eight hits, walked two, and struck out eight. Brandon Terry pitched 1.2 innings, and earned his sixth save of the season. 

Florida Southern Wins Game One of Series, 7-1

SOFTBALL – Florida Southern capitalized on three Florida Tech errors in the Moccasins’ 7-1 win in Friday’s series opener at Nancy Bottge Field. Florida Tech drops to 22-15 overall and 7-6 in the Sunshine State Conference, while the Moccasins improve to 19-11 on the season and 5-5 in conference play. Florida Southern scored a pair of runs in the second inning on two fielding errors. Ahead 3-0 with two outs in the sixth, a throw sailed on a Panther fielder and it led to three runs, all were unearned. 

Brigit Godfrey answered in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff home run, her first of her FIT career. However, Moccasin starter Chelsea Oglevie did not surrender any additional runs in her last 1 2/3 innings. Her outing ended with six hits allowed and one walk.

“She does a great job keeping us off balance,” head coach Val Silvestrini said of Oglevie. “She has a really good rise ball. She didn’t throw her change up much this game. … She has tight spin on the ball. We got a few hits and we hit the ball hard. We didn’t get them when we needed them.”

The Panthers had two quality opportunities to score. The first came in the opening inning as they had the bases loaded with two outs. The second occurred in the third inning with runners on first and second and no outs.

Pence (13-8) received the loss despite giving up two earned runs on 10 hits. Those 10 hits tied for the most hits a team has had against the right-hander in a game this season.

“We know when Rachel steps on the mound, she’s always going to give us a chance to win,” Silvestrini said. “She’s tough and she battles. Even though today wasn’t her best day, she still gave us a chance to win.”

FIT finished with six hits. Godfrey went 2-for-3 to lead the team. Florida Southern totaled 11 hits and it was led by Allasyn Lieneck’s 3-for-4 day.

The series continues on Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader. Saturday marks Strike Out Cancer Day at Nancy Bottge Field and fans are encouraged to wear pink. Pink commemorative T-shirts will be available for $20 along with Otis Spunkmeyer pink chocolate chip cookies. Proceeds from the sale of T-shirts and cookies will benefit the American Cancer Society. 

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