Florida Tech Softball Sweeps Doubleheader Against Florida Southeastern in Wild Finish
By Florida Tech // April 9, 2021
Panthers won both games, 5-2 and 7-6
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – After a historic moment and a doubleheader sweep of Nova Southeastern, Florida Tech softball looked to keep the momentum rolling in their doubleheader against Florida Southeastern and they did exactly that as the Panthers won both games 5-2 and 7-6.
“Florida Southern is a good team and they challenged us in both games,” said Val Silvestrini. “I’m happy in the way we are hitting the ball and was good to see Tina pitch long innings and get her bat going as well. I think Mac [Mikayla Lewin] had a great day and we had some really good plays and some really good at-bats.”
Looking ahead to this weekend’s matchup coach Silvestrini mentioned, “We have a couple of adjustments we need to make before Saturday. So I hope we make them and get the series win.”
Lewin had another big day as she went 5-7 from the plate with three runs, two RBI, one double, one home run and a stolen base. Victoria Szrom (3-6), Chloe French (3-6) and Jolie Miracle (2-4) all hit .500 in the doubleheader. Lewin, French and Tina Velazquez Rolon all hit one over the fence of Nancy Bottge Field.
Three pitchers made an appearance in the circle as Jordan Lawlis (4-5) started game one and in her 4.1 innings of work surrendered two runs on five hits and tallied two strikeouts. Velazquez Rolon got the start for the second contest and she allowed five runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts. Samantha Guider (4-3, 1 SV) was call upon in a relief role for both games and she delivered as she limited the Mocs to one run on five hits in 3.2 innings of work.
The first of the two games started with neither team grabbing a run in the first inning despite both leaving a player on base. This trend continued as the fielders outdueled the hitters until the Panthers struck with two outs in the bottom of the third. The team put together four straight extra-base hits that helped five runners cross the bag.
Emily Figueroa broke the scoreless tie as she hit a double to right center that got Miracle home. In the next at-bat, Lewin hit a blast to left center that cleared the fence and made it 3-0. Two batters later, Chloe French joined the party with a two-run homer of her own as she went over the double high fencing in center field.
Florida Southern was the next to score as they hit a two-run homer of their own in the top of the fifth and made it a 5-2 game. However, the Mocs attempt at a comeback ended there as the score held at 5-2 for a Florida Tech victory.
Game two did not take as long to see its first run as the Mocs broke through in the top of the first as a double put them ahead 1-0. However, Tech was not behind for long as Szrom and Lewin each got a runner across the plate and made it 2-1 as the game went into the second inning.
The Crimson & Gray extended their lead in the bottom of the second as Nelson hit a sacrifice fly deep into right center that gave Velazquez Rolon plenty of time to trot over home plate and make it 3-1. The team doubles its run total in their next plate appearance as an error-filled inning for the Mocs allowed two Tech runs while Velazquez Rolon got the third and final run of the inning thanks to a solo homer, her first of the season.
The 6-1 score held until the top of the seventh when Florida Southern began a rally that made Tech sweat as five runs came across the plate and tied it at 6-6 before the first out was recorded. This did not deter the women as they collected three straight outs and then got three straight hits to open the bottom of the seventh. The final hit of the three was a Szrom single that got Figueroa home for the game-winning run. This put the final score of game two at 7-6 and move the team above the .500 mark.
The Panthers finish their series against Florida Southern Saturday, April 10, when they head to Lakeland, Florida for a doubleheader that begins at 2 p.m. ET.
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