Panthers Take One from #12 Ranked Eagles in DII Softball Action
FORT MYERS, Fla (softball). – Florida Tech (41-24) split with #12 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (54-6) becoming the only opponent this season to take two from
the Eagles. The Host Eagles took game one with a score of 6-to-2, but then the Panthers waged a comeback taking the nightcap 5-to-3.
Tech’s freshman duo Ida Danielson (Fairfield, Cal.) and Sarah Oram (Indian, Harbor Beach, Fla.) each hit .667 for the series. Danielson led with four hits,
three of them double shots; along with one run and one RBI. Oram had two hits, while senior Kristen Fettes (Deltona, Fla.) added two doubles and two RBI’s.
Danielson, Oram and Junior Danielle Stanley (Grayson, Ga.) were the only Panthers to hit safely in both games.
The FGCU Eagles got on the board in game one in the bottom of the 2nd when Jessica Rouse (Jacksonville, Fla.) walked and Desiree Miller (Hartville, Ohio)
singled through the right side. Natasha Johnson (Fort Pierce, Fla.) then drove one up the middle to score Rouse. The Eagles scored again off a sacrifice
fly by Rouse in the bottom of the 3rd to put them ahead 2-1.
Carmen Paez (Belle Glade, Fla.) brought the Eagles to a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the 5th with a three run jack down the line against the wind, giving her
23 homeruns on the season, just shy of the NCAA Division II record.
The Panthers rallied in the top of the 7th with two outs when Danielson singled up the middle, followed by a single through the right side by Oram,
advancing two runners into scoring position. Stanley then singled up the middle scoring fellow junior outfielder Jen Wise (Auburndale, Fla.). Unfortunately
the two-out rally could only break up the Eagles’ shut-out.
The Eagles took the first game with a score of 6-to-2, improving their record to 54-5, with Rachael Edinger (Lakeland, Fla.) picking up the win and
improving her record to 26-1.
Junior Amber West (Apopka, Fla.) suffered the loss after throwing only four innings allowing the six earned runs, walking three and fanning two batters.
West is now 17-10 on the season. Senior Judith Husband (Wewahitchka, Fla.) came in for two innings of effective relief action allowing only two hits
shutting down the Eagles scoring frenzy.
The Eagles started off strong in game two with a double to left center by Rachael Homan (Vero Beach, Fla.). With the bases loaded, Miller drove one up the
middle to score Homan. Paez then scored on a single by Hillary Johnson (Fort Myers, Fla.).
The Panthers answered in the top of the 3rd when Danielson doubled to start the inning and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Oram. Senior Laura Chisena
(Ocoee, Fla.) drove her in with a single to right field. Chisena then scored on a double from Kristen Fettes, bringing the score to 2-to-2.
The Eagles attempted to come back from being down 4-2 in the bottom of the 6th by taking advantage of walks, scoring one run.
Florida Tech came out strong in the top of the 7th on a single by Chisena, who then stole second and advanced to third on a ground out from Fettes. Junior
Ali Wiegand (Tallahassee, Fla.) singled through the left side to score Chisena, putting the Panthers ahead 5-to-3. The Panthers shut down the Eagles’
offense in the bottom of the 7th sealing the win.
Starting pitcher Danielson picks up the win improving her record to 2-6. She went 5.2 inning facing 31 batters allowing eight hits and only three runs. She
struck-out one and walked six. West came in to notch her first save on the year finishing off the Eagles.
Dana Frantz (Brighton, Mich.) picking up the loss, giving her a record 24-4 on the season.
Florida Tech will finish off their regular season traveling to West Palm Beach, taking on Palm Beach Atlantic in their final doubleheader on Tuesday the
24th of the season hoping to grab their first NCAA II South Regional bid.
GAME ONE
Florida Gulf Coast 6, Florida Tech 2 (Apr 20, 2007 at Fort Myers, Fla.)
———————————————————————-
Florida Tech…….. 001 000 1 – 2 4 0 (39-23)
Florida Gulf Coast.. 011 040 X – 6 9 3 (54-5)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: Florida Tech – Amber West; Judith Husband(5). Florida Gulf Coast – Rachael Edinger.
Win-Rachael Edinger(26-1) Loss-Amber West(17-10) T-1:37 A-167
HR FGCU – Carmen Paez.
West faced 4 batters in the 5th.
Game: FTS64
GAME TWO
Florida Tech 5, Florida Gulf Coast 3 (Apr 20, 2007 at Fort Myers, Fla)
———————————————————————-
Florida Tech…….. 002 110 1 – 5 11 0 (41-24)
Florida Gulf Coast.. 200 001 0 – 3 8 2 (54-6)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: Florida Tech – Ida Danielson; Amber West(6). Florida Gulf Coast – Dana Frantz;
Rachael Edinger(7).
Win-Ida Danielson(2-6) Save-Amber West(1) Loss-Dana Frantz(24-4) T-1:55 A-150
Frantz faced 1 batter in the 7th.
Game: FTS65
