Panthers Shutout Golden Rams in a Combined Ten Innings of Regional Softball Action
MELBOURNE, Fla. (softball)- Panther softball held the Golden Rams of Albany State (8-11) to a scoreless double header combining for 19 runs for the NCAA II
South Regional sweep on the Nancy Bottge Field. In game one, senior hurler Judith Husband (Wewahitchka, Fla.) shut down the Rams 11-0 in five innings of
work allowing only one hit the top of the first. In game two, freshman Heather Boyts (Sarasota, Fla.) came close to throwing a perfect game until the fifth
inning allowing two hits while fanning five batters in her five innings hurled for an 8-0 victory.
Senior Katie Naumoff (Poland, Ohio) led Tech at the plate hitting .600 for the double header. From top to bottom on every member of the Panther roster hit
safely for the day under head coach Ellie O’Shei’s direction. Naumoff slugged .800 with four hits, three runs and one RBI.
Five Panthers finished the ten innings of play with a .500 batting average including: senior Kristen Fettes (Deltona, Fla.) , juniors’ Jen Wise
(Auburndale, Fla.), Ashley Lugo (Cape Coral, Fla.), Ashley Coleman (Molalla, Ore.) and freshman Ida Danielson (Fairfield, Cal.).
Wise, freshman Jen Hall (Rockledge, Fla.) and junior Ali Wiegand (Tallahassee, Fla.) combined for nine RBI each plating three runs. Danielson and Coleman
added two RBI for the team 18 runs batted in for the sweep.
Husband (12-3) opened up game one facing 17 batters in five innings giving up only one triple while striking out two for the day. Husband has a season 0.91
ERA and has now accumulated five of Tech’s 12 shut-outs for the year.
Shel Bynum (Albany, Ga.) struck first with a triple in the top of the first. Unfortunately for the Golden Rams, Tech would limit their hitting for the rest
of the game.
The crimson and gray bombers opened up the day on fire scoring seven of their eleven runs in the bottom of the first. Senior Laura Chisena, second batter
in the order, started the ball rolling smacking one to deep right center for a double. Next up, Fettes proceeded to launch a double shot off the center
field wall to plate the eventual game winner. Lugo, the clean-up slugger, brought Fettes home singling to center.
Naumoff, batting in the fifth spot, shellacked one down the left line for the third double of the inning and came home on a wild pitch. Danielson walked
and Wiegand moved everyone over one on a single shot to the left fielder. Hall proceeded to plate both Danielson and Wiegand launching one up the middle.
Hall was the final batter before head coach Robert Skinner changed out his starting pitcher Melissa Hurst (Montgomery, Ala.) for reliever Alisha Armstrong
(Montgomery, Ala.). Hurst game up six hits on seven runs in 0.1 innings pitched for the loss while Armstrong finished giving up seven hits, four runs with
only one earned in 3.2 innings thrown.
Wise, who flied out to start the inning, finished the first with a hit to left field brining home freshman Leah Tymeson (Lincoln University, Pa.). The
inning ended on a double play outing Wise and Chisena but not before the Panthers combined for an inning high of seven runs.
Tech proceeded to score three more runs off an error fest by the Golden Rams in the second inning with Lugo Naumoff and Danielson each scoring.
Tech finished their scoring rally in the third when Lugo smacked a single up the middle plating Fettes who reached on a single through the left side.
In the nightcap, Boyts (3-1) finished in the circle also producing her third shut-out while striking out five batters of the 17 faced. The Golden Rams
hurler Mindy Mager (Houston, Tex.) suffered the loss in the second game allowing ten hits on eight runs fanning two while placing two batters on base.
Naumoff started off the scoring in the second inning this time. After walking, she was brought home off a double pulled to right field by Danielson. In the
bottom spot, Coleman reached on a walk and proceeded to steal second. Wise brought both Danielson and Coleman home on a left field launch. Chisena
immediately plated Wise on her second double shot of the day.
Tech finished off their scoring in the bottom of the third. Naumoff again got Tech off to a nice start singling one through the left side. Danielson
reached on an error by a Tiffany Peterson (Cairo, Ga.) bobble at second base. Wiegand launched her first multiple base shot plating both Tech runners.
Coleman had the showcase shot of the day walloping a two run homer over the right center wall two feet shy of the center field “monster”. This would be the
Panther final rally of the day.
The Golden Rams tried for a late comeback breaking up Boyts perfect game in their last inning at bat with Shari Golden (Atlanta, Ga.) and Djara Grays
(Wetumpka, Al.) grabbing back to back singles. Boyts would finish off the inning catching one looking and ground balls.
Florida Tech is now 26-13 on season will be back in action this weekend playing in the Florida Southern Moc Tournament on Friday and Saturday. Fans can
follow the five games via live stats and audio at http://gopanthers.fit.edu/stretch.php .
GAME ONE
Florida Tech 11, Albany State Univ. 0 (03/12/07 at Melbourne, Fla.) (Game 1)
———————————————————————-
Albany State Univ… 000 00 – 0 1 3 (8-10)
Florida Tech…….. 731 0X – 11 13 1 (26-13)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: Albany State Univ. – Melissa Hurst; Alisha Armstrong(1); catcher Shari Golden. Florida Tech – Judith Husband; catcher-Kristen Fettes.
.
Win-Judith Husband(13-3) Loss-Melissa Hurst(0-1) T-1:30 A-57
Game: FTS39
GAME TWO
Florida Tech 8, Albany State Univ. 0 (03/12/07 at Melbourne, Fla.) (Game 2)
———————————————————————-
Albany State Univ… 000 00 – 0 2 3 (8-11)
Florida Tech…….. 044 0X – 8 10 0 (27-13)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: Albany State Univ. – Mindy Mager; catcher Shari Godlen. Florida Tech – Heather Boyts; catcher Kristen Fettes.
Win-Heather Boyts(3-1) Loss-Mindy Mager T-1:15 A-57
HR FTS – Ashley Coleman (3).
Game: FTS40
