Panthers Win Conference Opener Overtaking Saint Leo 5-4 Tonight

PALM BAY, Fla. (softball) — Florida Tech (8-9, 1-0 SSC) came back from a four point deficit to take down Saint Leo University (1-6, 0-1 SSC) 5-4 in the 2007
Sunshine State Conference season opener. Panthers’ reliever Judith Husband (Wewahitchka, Fla.) stepped up big in the top of the first inning shutting down
the Lion’s defense going 6.2 innings allowing only three hits at the BCC Softball Complex.

Senior Kristen Fettes (Deltona, Fla.) again led by example with a flawless night at the plate putting down three sacrifice bunts and one hit during her
four plate appearances. In the bottom of the third, Fettes was give her only opportunity to hit away in the game and roped a shot down the left line to
plate teammate Jen Wise (Auburndale, Fla.), which was Tech’s first run of the game.

Junior Ashley Lugo (Cape Coral, Fla.), had a huge outing against the Lions going 3-for-4 racking up two doubles and a single garnering three RBI’s for the
night. Lugo launched three Ashley Urbanik (Riverview, Fla.) pitches deep into the outfield to lead all players with three hits on game one of the three
game series.

Junior Danielle Stanley (Grayson, Ga.) was the only other crimson and gray slugger to tally multiple hits in the late showdown. Stanley came out of the
gate strong for Tech rocking a deep shot to left field on the Panthers first pitch of the game. She then came back in the third inning sending one through
the left side and eventually scoring off a Lugo hit.

Five other Panthers’ each hit safely in the conference victory including senior Katie Naumoff (Poland, Ohio) who stepped up in the bottom of the seventh
with a single shot hard to the short-stop. Naumoff proceeded to score her second time of the game halting play with the game winner after Lugo plated the
game winner on her final double for the day.

Newcomers Ida Danielson (Fairfield, Cal.), Wise and Ashley Coleman (Molalla, Ore.) each combined for three hits rounding out the Panther offense.

Saint Leo’s scoring came in the first inning after shutting down Tech’s starter Amber West (Apopka, Fla.) with four runs. The green and gold hurler Urbanik
proved a threat at the plate going 1-for-4 with one run and the two lone RBI’s for the Lions.

Florida Tech will be back in action tomorrow at the Nancy Bottge Field hosting Saint Leo in double header action concluding the three game series with the
first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m. To follow the games tomorrow check out the live scoring and live audio Panther website at
http://gopanthers.fit.edu/stretch.php .

Florida Tech 5, Saint Leo 4 (02/21/07 at Palm Bay, Fla.)
———————————————————————-
Saint Leo……….. 400 000 0 – 4 6 2 (1-6, 0-1 SSC)
Florida Tech…….. 003 010 1 – 5 10 4 (8-9, 1-0 SSC)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: Saint Leo – Ashley Urbanik. Florida Tech – Amber West; Judith Husband(1).
Win-Judith Husband(5-1) Loss-Ashley Urbanik(1-3) T-9:30 A-45
Game: FTS17