MELBOURNE, Fla. - The Lynn University softball team battled back and kept things within reach late, but Florida Tech used a big sixth inning to pull away and secure the series-opening victory on Friday evening. The Fighting Knights showcased power at the plate with a pair of home runs and put the tying run on base in the final frame, but were unable to complete the comeback as the Panthers held on down the stretch.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Gabriella Lindsey worked a clean bottom half of the first, stranding multiple runners to keep the Panthers off the board early
- Lynn struck first in the second behind Savannah Ellis, who launched a solo home run to give the Blue and White a 1-0 lead
- Florida Tech answered right back in the bottom half with a solo shot to even the score at 1-1
- The Panthers took control in the third, using a two-run homer to jump in front 3-1 while adding pressure with additional baserunners
- Both sides were held in check in the fourth, highlighted by a Lynn double play to erase a leadoff single and keep the deficit at two
- The Fighting Knights chipped away in the fifth as Ellis sparked things again with a double and later came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Kaela Santiago, cutting the deficit to 3-2
- Florida Tech responded in the bottom of the inning, capitalizing on a home run and timely hitting to push the lead to 6-2
- Lynn answered back in the sixth as Kyleigh Hope doubled down the line to start the inning before Teagan Riley crushed a two-run homer, trimming the deficit to 6-4 and keeping the Fighting Knights within striking distance
- Florida Tech added on in the bottom of the sixth, capitalizing on a Lynn error to plate three unearned runs, highlighted by a two-run triple that extended the Panthers' lead
- The Fighting Knights looked to respond in the seventh as Marina Goins and Quinn McFadden delivered back-to-back singles to put the tying run on base
- Lynn was unable to capitalize on the late opportunity, however, as the Panthers recorded the final outs to secure the victory
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS:
- The Fighting Knights scored four runs on seven hits, with two extra-base hits and two home runs highlighting the offense
- Ellis led the way, going 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and an RBI
- Riley provided a big swing, finishing 1-for-3 with a two-run homer
- Hope added a double and a run scored, continuing to be a steady presence in the lineup
- Goins turned in a strong day at the plate, going 2-for-3 and reaching base multiple times
- McFadden contributed with a hit and a walk, while also handling duties behind the plate
- Santiago drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, accounting for one of Lynn's key situational RBIs
- In the circle, Gabriella Lindsey made the start, allowing three runs over 3.2 innings
- Kayley Zazzali provided relief, striking out none but working through 2.1 innings while battling through traffic
- Defensively, the Fighting Knights recorded 18 putouts and 10 assists, turning in several clean innings despite one costly error
 
UP NEXT:
Lynn will conclude the conference series against Florida Tech with a doubleheader set for 12:00 pm on Saturday afternoon.