Panthers Secure Series 2-1 against Top Ranked SSC Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. (softball) — Coming off a 5-to-1 victory Friday night, Florida Tech (39-22, 15-7) split with the Tampa Spartans (28-15, 13-5) in the final two
games of the conference doubleheader falling 11-to-5 in game one and coming back 4-to-1 in the nightcap at the Spartan Softball Complex.

SSC Pitcher of the Week Amber West (Apopka, Fla.) comes out ahead with two spectacular wins against the #10 ranked Spartans. West (17-9) pulled off win in
game two going seven innings allowing only three hits on one run while striking out five and walking one for the day.

For the series, senior Katie Naumoff (Poland, Ohio) hit .500 with four hits, three runs and racked up five RBI’s to lead the Panthers.

In the early game, the Panthers jumped ahead 2-0 early off a two-run smack by junior Ali Wiegand (Tallahassee, Fla.) plating both Naumoff and fellow junior
Danielle Stanley (Grayson, Ga.) after both reached on walks and took advantage of a wild pitch, steal and a sacrifice bunt by Laura Chisena (Ocoee, Fla.).

Unfortunately the Spartans immediately answered in the bottom of the first with five runs taking the lead 5-2. After a few errors by Tech Michelle Horan,
Ashley Carrea, Devlin Dougherty, Krystal Crooks and Kelly Glover all passed go an collected their 200 dollars. Samantha Becker, Glover and Brandi Blout
each plated a Spartan with Blout nothing two for the inning despite only one run being earned.

Tampa again scored three runs in the third including a lead-off homer by the designated player Devlin Dougherty.

The Panthers would hold the Spartans to 8 runs while Tech scored three consecutive runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth. The Panthers edged away at the lead
with a run in the fourth with Naumoff scoring another run after starting the ball rolling slicing one through the left side. Wiegand followed with another
shot through the left side. Naumoff would score on a wild pitch, while Wiegand and Danielson were left stranded.

Again the Crimson and Gray would score two more runs with Naumoff plating senior Kristen Fettes (Deltona, Fla.) after Fettes launched a triple shot. Junior
Jen Wise would slam the second home run of the game and her career ninth to finish the scoring for Tech.

Tampa would add two more insurance runs in the sixth. Florida Tech’s reliever Ida Danielson (Fairfield, Cal.) would suffer the loss after taking the circle
from starter Judith Husband (Wewahitchka, Fla.). Freshman Heather Boyts (Sarasota, Fla.) and Leah Tymeson (Lincoln University, Pa.) also saw time hurling
for the day.

In game two, Tech came back with a vengeance to take the final game 4-to-1. Stanley would score the first right out of the gate after reaching on an error
by the Tampa’s third baseman. Naumoff would bring Stanley home on a sacrifice fly to left field.

Again, the Panthers struck early scoring their final three runs in the top of the second including the eventual game winner by sophomore Rebecca Cavazos
(Dallas, Tex.) who pinch ran for junior Ashley Lugo (Cape Coral, Fla.). Stanley would notch three RBI in the second shellacking a double through the left
side bringing Cavazos, Danielson and junior Ashley Coleman (Molalla, Ore.).

West’s shut-out was broken up in the seventh when Becker slammed a double to deep centerfield. With Carrea pinch running and Jessica Tejas pinch hitting,
Tejas plated the Spartans lone run.

Game 1

Tampa 11, Florida Tech 5 (04/14/07 at Tampa, Florida) (Game 1)
———————————————————————-
Florida Tech…….. 200 111 0 – 5 7 3 (38-22, 14-7 SSC)
Tampa…………… 503 102 X – 11 14 0 (28-14, 13-4 SSC)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: Florida Tech – Judith Husband; Ida Danielson(1); Heather Boyts(3); Leah Tymeson(4).
Tampa – Heather VanLandingha.
Win-Heather VanLandingha(10-7) Loss-Ida Danielson(1-6) T-2:10 A-56
HR FTS – Jen Wise.
HR UTS – Devlin Dougherty (3).
Danielson faced 1 batter in the 3rd.
Game: FTS60

Game 2

Florida Tech 4, Tampa 1 (04/14/07 at Tampa, Florida) (Game 2)
———————————————————————-
Florida Tech…….. 130 000 0 – 4 6 1 (39-22, 15-7 SSC)
Tampa…………… 000 000 1 – 1 3 2 (28-15, 13-5 SSC)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: Florida Tech – Amber West. Tampa – Devlin Dougherty.
Win-Amber West(17-9) Loss-Devlin Dougherty(14-8) T-1:50 A-56
Game: FTS61