Tech Tames Lions in Ten Inning Doubleheader Sweep
MELBOURNE, Fla.-The Florida Tech Panthers proved they were the king of their jungle combining for 25 runs on 24 hits and putting the Molloy College Lions
(1-7) out of commission in an NCAA Division II doubleheader earlier today at Varsity Field. Florida Tech (17-3) defeated the Lions 12-0 in the first
game and 13-0 in the nightcap, as the Panthers extended their winning streak to 16 games. Both games were called after five innings due to the NCAA
mercy rule.
Catcher Courtney Harless (St. Cloud, Fla.) was the offensive star for the Panthers. On the day, Harless went 3-for-6 with two doubles in the first
game and her first career grand slam in the nightcap. She drove in six runs and scored four times tallying her third home run on the season.
In the opening game, Florida Tech wasted no time claiming an insurmountable lead, posting 10 runs in the first inning. Katie Naumoff (Poland, Ohio),
Megan Hube (Bel Air, Md.) and Harless each picked up two hits in the Panthers’ 11-hit attack.
Wewahitchka, Florida resident Judith Husband (6-0) remained perfect in her collegiate career, tossing five shutout innings in a complete-game effort.
Husband allowed two hits and just one walk, while striking out seven.
In the second game, Florida Tech once again broke open the contest early, plating 10 runs in the second inning. Eight of the Panthers’ nine starters
recorded at least one hit in the game. In addition to Harless, Laura Chisena (Ocoee, Fla.), Kristen Fettes (Deltona, Fla.), Kelly Darden (Orlando,
Fla.), Jennifer Salls (Madison, Fla.) and Karen D’Alberto (Cape Coral, Fla.) each notched two hits. The Panthers outhit Molloy 13-3.
Thyra Dewey, hailing from Chelmsford, Mass., (3-0) pitched a five-inning, complete-game shutout. Dewey allowed just three hits, struck out
three and did not walk a single batter.
Besides Harless, seven other Panthers-Salls, Darden, D’Alberto, Hube, Fettes, Naumoff and Chisena-notched three hits on the afternoon. Darden drove
in four runs, while Salls, D’Alberto and Hube each pushed across three.
Also making her first collegiate defensive appearance was freshman Zoe Morozko (Teneck, N.J.) relieving Fettes in left field, while Fettes moved behind the
plate and Harless made her career debut at third base for the Panthers.
At the end of today’s game seven Panthers are hitting above .300 for the season thus far with Hube leading the way at .500, Naumoff close behind hitting
.453 and Chisena rounding off the top three with a .451 season batting average. Darden, Harless, Fettes and D’Alberto make up the other four above the
curve on the stats.
After six spring break blow-outs, Tech will come back to reality facing St .Leo University in a three game Sunshine State Conference series this weekend on
the road. Friday’s game will begin at 7:00 p.m., while the double-header on Saturday is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m.
