Panthers Continue “14” Game Streak Sweeping NYACK
MELBOURNE, Fla.-The Florida Tech Panthers (15-3) swept the Nyack College Warriors (2-5) scoring a stunning 20 runs towards a three-week winning stretch.
Tech closed the first game early adding an incredible 12 runs to their earlier three in the bottom of the fourth shutting down the Warriors 15-0. Game one
was their 14th win of the 2006 campaign. In game two, Tech grabbed their fifteenth win overcoming Nyack 5-2 for the victory.
Fourteen made its way into both games today, which has proven to be Tech’s magic number this season. At the beginning of the season, the team dedicated
this season to former head coach Nancy Bottge who passed away last year. Fourteen was Bottge’s number. The team has been wearing the number on armbands
found on every player’s wrists this season, along with 14 and the letters NB on their visors. New coach Ellie Hanover has really done a great job guiding
the team towards a successful season thus far despite their tough beginning.
After the two game rampage, three Panthers hit an amazing .667 for the double-header. Juniors’ Katie Naumoff (Poland, Ohio) and Laura Chisena (Ocoee,
Florida) along with junior Karen D’Alberto (Cape Coral, Florida) led the way for the Crimson and Gray. Naumoff went 4-for-6 with three runs and four RBI.
Chisena also went 4-for-6 crossing the plate four times, including slicing two triples and adding two RBI’s. D’Alberto added two hits on three at bats
driving one Panther home.
Senior Megan Hube (Bel Air, Maryland) pounded her seventh homer of the season going 3-for-4; bringing home four and notching three runs in game one. For
the day, she finished with a .571 batting average and a 1.143 slugging percentage, producing an additional hit in game two.
Junior Kristen Fettes (Deltona, Florida) and senior Courtney Harless (St. Cloud, Florida) also hit safely in both games. Fettes added three hits, three
RBI’s and two runs while Harless had three hits, two runs and three RBI’s.
In game one, Tech scored immediately in the bottom of the first when lead off batter Chisena crossed the plate. She scored off a double slammed to
left field by Hube. Chisena’s run would later prove to be the game winner. Hube was then brought home by Fettes, who poke her first hit of the day to
center field.
In the bottom of the second, Darden took advantage of a walk off of Nyack’s pitcher Lauren Merkely (1-2). A wild pitch and a single by Naumoff landed
Tech’s sole run of the inning bringing Darden across the plate.
The fourth inning would be the final offensive attack for the Panthers after going on a twelve run stitch. Eight out of the nine players’ at least scored
and hit once with four batters reaching home twice. The inning ended in style with Hube launching a two-run homer over the left-field fence sailing between
the scoreboard and the foul pole.
Sophomore Amber West (Apopka, Florida) hurled a mere two hitter five inning game, fanning eleven Warriors and walking one. West improves to a 9-2 overall
record.
In the night cap, sophomore pitcher Thyra Dewey (Chelmsford, Massachusetts) was awarded her second straight win in two days throwing all seven innings.
Dewey, who is now 2-0, permitted two runs on six hits striking out six Nyack batters.
Tech struck early scoring four in the first inning. This time Nyack answered back in the fourth scoring two runs. Shortstop Megan Cawley started the
Warriors off beating out a throw by Tech’s Chisena. She later scored on a Denny Pounds single to right center. Nyack’s next batter, Laura Briggs again
found an open spot in right bringing home the designated player Mel Williamson who was walked earlier by Dewey. This would be the Warriors’ final run.
The Panthers could not let Nyack have the last word, chipping in one final insurance run in the bottom of the fourth. D’Alberto was the final player to
cross the plate for the day after some smart base running. Naumoff again found an opening and sliced the ball to Nyack’s left fielder brining
D’Alberto home.
The Panthers, who were supposed the play Molloy today and Nyack tomorrow, will face Molloy on Wednesday in another Division II double header action
starting at 2:00 p.m. at the Varsity Field.
