Panthers Sweep Tritons in SSC Series
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Florida Tech (8-3, 3-0 SSC) wasted little time getting on the board in game one, scoring all seven of their runs in the first three
innings. The Panthers’ 16-hit first game was highlighted by Laura Chisena’s (Ocoee, Florida) second-inning two-run homer.
Florida Tech starter Amber West (Apopka, Florida) picked up where she left off Friday night, pitching a complete-game shutout, allowing just three Eckerd
hits.
The Eckerd College softball team came within one run of capturing their first Sunshine State Conference win of the season, but Florida Tech held on to win
the second half of Saturday’s doubleheader 7-6 in eight innings. The Panthers won the first game of the day shutting down the Tritons 7-0.
In game one the infielder’s really ripped it at the plate, with junior short-stop Chisena, junior 2B Katie Naumoff (Poland, Ohio) and sophomore 3B Dana
Buccelli (Melbourne, Florida) each going 3-for-4 with Chisena adding the RBI’s for the first contest.
Fellow junior right-fielder Danielle Emhoff (Canton, Connecticut) went a perfect 2-for-2 with one run and one RBI. Senior 1B Kelly Darden (Orlando,
Florida) was the only other Panther to notch a multiple hit game adding two hits and a run scored.
In game two, the Panthers got on the board first when Chisena singled to left field to drive in senior center-fielder Karen D’Alberto (Cape Coral, Florida)
in the top of the second. But the Tritons answered in the third. With two outs, sophomore third baseman Lindsey Reynolds singled to right field for her
second hit of the game. Two batters later, senior Jenn Barnes reached base on a Florida Tech error that allowed Reynolds to race home for the score to tie
the game 1-1.
The Panthers came roaring back in the next inning, posting two runs. The Tritons got one back in the bottom of the fourth. Junior catcher Westin Caplinger
poked a double into right field to start the inning, and Janielle Sedoris moved her over the third with a sacrifice grounder. Sophomore right fielder Julie
Kim stepped up with an RBI single to right field to score Caplinger and get the Tritons within one.
Eckerd’s big inning was the fifth, as the Tritons scored four runs on four hits. Reynolds led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a
passed ball. Second baseman Mettina Maggiore walked, and both runners moved up thanks to Barnes’ bunt. Reynolds was thrown out at home on a fielder’s
choice, but the bases were loaded for Janielle Sedoris, who came through with a two-run single up the middle, scoring Maggiore and Barnes. Janielle
Sedoris’ twin sister Danielle Sedoris strode to the plate and cranked a two-run double to center field, scoring Caplinger and Janielle Sedoris. The Tritons
led 6-3 after five innings.
But Florida Tech would not back down. Emhoff scored early in the inning on a wild pitch to get the Panthers within two, and the visitors tied the game on
senior catcher Courtney Harless’s (St. Cloud, Florida) two-run shot over the left field wall.
Each team left a runner on base in the seventh, so the game headed to extra innings tied at six. With two down, Harless played the role of hero, coming up
with an RBI double to right field. That was all the offense the Panthers would need to remain undefeated in conference play.
For Florida Tech, Chisena finished the day going 6-for-9 from the plate with three RBI. Harless also posted three RBI. West earned both wins to improve to
5-2 on the season.
Eckerd (2-9, 0-3 SSC) was led by Reynolds’ three hits on the day. Danielle and Janielle Sedoris drove in two runs apiece.
Tech faces Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday, March 8th in a double header beginning at 2:00 p.m.
