Melbourne, Fla.—Lynn University's softball team dropped both games of a Sunshine State Conference doubleheader to the Florida Tech Panther on Saturday. Lynn (1-33, 0-11 SSC) fell in game one 6-2 then 4-1 in the second game.
Bianca Savulak collected a pair of hits in each games totaling a 4-for-8 day while Missy Montgomery pitched for Lynn in both game, totaling 11 innings and six earned runs.
In game one, Kasey Murray took the circle and surrendered three runs on no hits with three walks, a hit by pitch and two wild pitches.
Down 3-0 in the fourth inning, the Fighting Knights scratched and clawed their way back into the game. Christina Carvatta started the fourth reaching on a throwing error then moved to second on another Panthers' error.
Lauren Garceau then flied out followed by a Kaci Vassallo walk to load the bases with one out. Murray then singled up the middle to score Carvatta as the bases remained loaded for Callie Darlin.
After a Tech pitching change, Darlin reached on a fielder's and scored Savulak from third. Montgomery struck out to end the inning but the Blue & White cut the deficit down to one with Florida Tech up 3-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, Tech loaded the bases with two outs and collected a clutch hit to score two runs to take its advantage back to three.
The Panthers added another run in the fifth to go up 6-2, but Lynn continued to battle as Savulak started the sixth inning with a double down the left field line. Tech then retired the next three Fighting Knights to end the Lynn threat in the sixth.
Montgomery worked her way out of another bases loaded jam the sixth to set the table for Lynn in the seventh.
Darlin led off the seventh with a walk and moved to second on a Montgomery ground out. Anne Marie Van Casteren then singled up the middle to put runner on first and third with one out. After a Marianne Johnson walk to load the bases, Carvatta and Savulak both grounded out to end the game.
Lynn collected four hits to the Panthers' six and left six runners on.
In game number two, the Knights started things off in the first with Savulak and Garceau reaching base but Vassallo then line a ball to short and Savulak was doubled up on the play to end the inning.
The Panthers drew first blood in the second inning after a leadoff double eventually scored on a throwing error by the Lynn catcher on a ball back to Montgomery in the circle. After the Lynn miscue gave Florida Tech the early lead, the heavens opened up and forced a 30 minute rain delay.
Out of the break, both teams posted a scoreless third inning before Lynn knotted the game up in the fourth.
Darlin poked a 1-2 pitch down the right field line to start out the fourth. After Van Casteren fouled out on a bunt, Montgomery singled on a chopper in front of the plate to put Darlin on second with one out. Johnson then struck out and Carvatta walked to load the bases with two outs.
Savulak then collected her first two-out RBI of the season on a single through the right side on a 2-1 count. Garceau then ended the inning on a field's choice to third as the Panthers threw home to retire Montgomery on the play.
With the game tied in the sixth, Tech plated three runs on a single and three doubles to grab a 4-1 advantage and seal the game.
Savulak, Garceau, and Montgomery all amassed two hits as the Fighting Knights registered eight total hits to Florida Tech's six.
Montgomery tallied a complete game with six hits and three earned runs.
Lynn hosts Eckerd on Thursday, April 5, at 3:30 p.m., in its next contest. Fans can listen to the action live at LynnFigtingKnigths.com by clicking on the Game Central icon.
