Florida Tech Panthers Sports Roundup

By  //  March 17, 2014

No. 6 Panthers Back in Action Tonight

The No. 6 Florida Tech Panthers return to action Monday night, as they host Southern Connecticut State University at Seminick-Hall Field. It is the first of four games this week for the Panthers.

The No. 6 Panthers get back to action Monday night, as they host Southern Connecticut State tomorrow night. (Florida Tech image)
The No. 6 Panthers get back to action Monday night, as they host Southern Connecticut State tomorrow night. (Florida Tech image)

The Panthers (17-8, 2-4 SSC) dropped three-of-four games last week. After falling to Palm Beach Atlantic 7-6, the Panthers rebounded by defeating Eckerd 6-4 Friday night. However, the Tritons came back and won both games 3-2 on Saturday to take the Sunshine State Conference series.

Sophomore Austin Allen leads the Panthers in hitting with a .368 batting average. Allen hit his fifth home run of the season Friday night against Eckerd, and leads the club with 23 RBIs.

Austin Allen
Austin Allen

Southern Connecticut State (4-3-1) has been in the state of Florida for the last 10 days. Last week, the Owls went 2-1. They fell to Pitt-Johnstown, but rebounded to sweep a doubleheader from Mercy College. SCSU, a NCAA Division II member, is out of the Northeast-10 Conference.

The Owls are led by head coach Tim Shea, who is in his 12th season at the head of the program. Shea enters Monday’s game with a career record of 366-220-4.

The Panthers lead the all-time series with the Owls 7-1, and it is the first time these two teams have met since the 2009 season. First pitch Monday night is set for 6 p.m. ET. Live stats and audio will be available at FloridaTechSports.com.

Women’s Golf Looks to Continue Impressive Spring at Lady Bucs Invitational

The No. 3 Florida Tech Panthers get back out on the golf course this week, as they participate in the Lady Bucs Invitational Monday and Tuesday and the three-round event is hosted by Barry University at Don Shula’s Golf Club in Miami Lakes, and is the first time the No. 2 Bucs have hosted the tournament.

he No. 3 Florida Tech Panthers get back out on the golf course this week, as they participate in the Lady Bucs Invitational Monday and Tuesday. The three-round event is hosted by Barry University at Don Shula’s Golf Club in Miami Lakes, and is the first time the No. 2 Bucs have hosted the tournament. (Florida Tech image)
he No. 3 Florida Tech Panthers get back out on the golf course this week, as they participate in the Lady Bucs Invitational Monday and Tuesday. The three-round event is hosted by Barry University at Don Shula’s Golf Club in Miami Lakes, and is the first time the No. 2 Bucs have hosted the tournament. (Florida Tech image)

Along with the Bucs and Panthers, other teams competing this week include: No. 5 Rollins, No. 6 Saint Edwards, No. 7 Flagler, No. 9 California Baptist, No. 11 Nova Southeastern, No. 12 Florida Southern, and No. 14 Saint Leo. No. 1 Lynn and Johnson & Wales will also have players competing as individuals.

The Panthers have put together an impressive spring so far. They are coming off a second place finish at the Peggy Kirk Bell Classic where the squad shot the best round in program history, a 294 in the final round. Freshman Johanna Larsson won her first individual championship at the Peggy Kirk Bell Classic, and was named Sunshine State Conference Women’s Golfer of the Week for the second time. Larsson’s three round total of 218 matched the best 54-hole score in program history.

The women also climbed in the latest Golf World/WGCA Division II Poll. Their performance at the Peggy Kirk Bell Classic moved the squad from No. 4 up into a tie for No. 3 with Tarleton State.

Women’s Tennis Earns Sixth Straight Win, Defeats No. 8 Northwood, 6-3

No. 18 Florida Tech (8-7) earned its sixth consecutive victory Saturday afternoon, defeating No. 8 Northwood University (7-3), 6-3, at the DeSoto Tennis Courts. 

No. 18 Florida Tech (8-7) earned its sixth consecutive victory Saturday afternoon, defeating No. 8 Northwood University (7-3), 6-3, at the DeSoto Tennis Courts. (Florida Tech image)
No. 18 Florida Tech (8-7) earned its sixth consecutive victory Saturday afternoon, defeating No. 8 Northwood University (7-3), 6-3, at the DeSoto Tennis Courts. (Florida Tech image)

Natasa Vukovic recorded her sixth straight singles win, defeating Ivana Vlakic, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, in singles No. 2. No. 12 Kristina Huba improved to 9-3 in singles No. 1 and 13-4 overall with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Justyna Wojcik. Jessica Widmark earned her fourth consecutive win and is now 3-0 in singles No. 6, and Meritt Rabson improved to 5-6 in singles No. 4 after earning a three-set victory.

Natasa Vukovic
Natasa Vukovic

The Panthers took two doubles matches as No. 19 Huba and Vukovic blanked Livia Toth and Julia Ferraz, 8-0, in doubles No. 1, and Chloe Chanley and Widmark defeated Vlakic and Adelaide Wood, 8-6. Huba and Vukovic have now won seven straight doubles matches, and are 14-3 overall and 11-2 in doubles No. 1.

The men’s team won by forfeit.

FIT begins a four-match week on Monday, March 17 hosting Bluefield State at 9 a.m. and No. 11 New York Institute of Technology at 2 p.m.