Panthers Prevail at Rebel Games
KISSIMMEE, Fla.-Sophomore Dana Buccelli (Melbourne, Fla.) led the way for Florida Tech today at the 2006 Rebel Games at the Osceola Complex. The Florida
Tech Panthers (21-6) battled in game one defeating Southern New Hampshire Penman (0-8) 3-2, while in the nightcap Tech easily shut down the Cougars
of Caldwell College (4-6) 8-0 in five innings.
After going 2-for-3 in the opening game, Buccelli made her mark against Caldwell slamming the lone Panther walk-off home run in the bottom of the fifth.
For the day, Buccelli tallied two runs on four hits while notching four RBI’s for the two games. Due to the NCAA eight run mercy rule, Tech was able to
pack up early after Buccelli hammered home the final run to finish the game, this homer also proved to be her first collegiate one on the season.
In game one, Tech had to come from behind when the Penman scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second. After Southern New Hampshire’s Tara
Moriarity (Randolph, Mass.), Ashley Bernstein (Stoughton, Mass.) and Lindsey Yeomans (Durham, Conn.) managed to each hit consecutively off of Tech’s
starter Judith Husband (Wewahitchka, Fla.). The Penman’s freshman Karissa Bettencourt brought home Moriarity off a sacrifice fly to right field to score
the first run.
The Panthers immediately answered back in the top of the third knotting the score 1-1 for the game. Top of the order for Tech stepped up after lead-off
batter junior Laura Chisena (Ocoee, Fla.) doubled to right center. Next up to bat, junior Katie Naumoff found the other hole in left center and scored
Chisena off the stand-up double.
Southern New Hampshire proceeded to grab the lead in the bottom of the fourth. The Penman effectively brought home sophomore pinch runner Sara Swales
(Lawrence, Mass.) off of two effective sacrifice bunts executed by Moriarity and Yeomans.
Tech replaced starting pitcher Husband after 3.0 innings and brought in sophomore reliever Amber West (Apopka, Fla.). West would later be awarded the win
fanning seven while only allowing two hits. Husband finished with two earned runs on four hits tossing two strike-outs.
The Panthers again tied the game in the sixth and came back to win it in the seventh. Freshman pinch runner Rebecca Cavazos (Dallas, Tex.) scored the
winning run after coming in for senior Courtney Harless (St. Cloud, Fla.) who singled through the left side. Senior designated player Megan Hube nailed a
deep shot double to score Cavazos. Naumoff crossed the bag for Tech to tally the winning run. Harless nailed a shot up the middle to plate the
winning run and finish the rally for the Crimson and Gray.
In the nightcap, West (13-4) shut down her opponent’s the Caldwell Cougars in five innings with the help of her teammates. West tossed a one-hitter while
fanning nine and walking two for the five inning game.
Tech’s big inning came in the bottom of the first when the scored seven of the eight runs off of the Cougars’ starter Anna Dahl (1-3), who hails from
Lindenwold, N.J. Dahl, who only went 0.1 innings, gave up seven runs on seven hits and placing two on for the tough start. Caldwell’s coach immediately
changed pitcher’s and brought in Cecilia Goforth (Houston, Tex.). Goforth gave up one run on four Tech hits to close the game.
Chisena had a perfect game going 3-for-3 with one run and one RBI for the nightcap. She finished the day with four hits. Senior Karen D’Alberto (Cape
Coral, Fla.) also hit 100% in the second game going 2-for-2 with one run and 1 RBI.
The Panthers will be back in action on Friday and Saturday when the host #2 Florida Southern in a three game SSC series starting on March 24th at 3:00 p.m.
