FLORIDA TECH

Florida Tech roundup: Mims posts 600th win

Florida Tech
Billy Mims, coach at FIT, now has 600 wins.

WEST PALM BEACH – Florida Tech (12-14, 7-11 SSC) outscored Palm Beach Atlantic (14-15, 8-10 SSC) by 14 points in the second half and came back from a double-digit deficit to knock off the Sailfish, 86-77, in Sunshine State Conference action at Rubin Arena.

Head coach Billy Mims recorded his 600th career win, at both the professional and collegiate level. As a college coach, Mims has 283 total victories, including 195 at Florida Tech. He is the all-time winningest coach in FIT men's basketball history.

"It’s funny how milestone wins seem to come down to the game that it happens in, but it's actually so much more than that one game," stated Mims. "To me it's about all the people who helped make it possible, the great assistant coaches that I've had the opportunity to work with, all the talented players that I've been fortunate to coach, the presidents, athletic directors, and owners who hired and believed in me and gave me a chance to go to work every day doing what I love so much.

"And I have to thank my family for all their support and sacrifice. It's not easy being the family of a coach and having to go through all the ups and downs, highs and lows, wins and losses. My wife Lynne and my three children have been such a wonderful support group season after season."

Leading the Panthers to this memorable win was Jordan Majors who recorded his second straight 32-point game to go along with seven rebounds and three assists. The redshirt-senior now has six 30-plus point outings this season.

Valur Valsson finished one assist shy of a double-double, ending the game with 13 points and nine assists. Sam Daniel tallied 11 points, three rebounds and three assists. Richard Coil produced 10 points and 10 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the season.

The Sailfish controlled early on, jumping out to a 29-14 lead with 9:02 remaining in the first half. PBA led 38-25 with just over four minutes to go but a 9-0 run by the Panthers, capped by a trey from Michael Milligan, made the score 38-34 with 1:38 left on the clock.

PBA pushed its lead back to eight on a fastbreak layup by Jules Jasmin with 30 seconds to go. However, a three-point play by Coil with five seconds remaining made it a five-point game, 42-37, at halftime.

Similar to the first half, the Sailfish controlled the early moments of the second period and led 53-42 at the 16:07 mark. From there the Panthers took over and outscored the home team, 23-7, to grab a 65-60 lead with 6:54 remaining.

Florida Tech led the rest of the way, building its lead to as much as 12 points, 78-66, with two minutes to go and then cruised to its sixth conference road win of the season and No. 600 for Coach Mims.

"At the half, I simply asked our players to give 100% effort on every possession and leave their hearts out there on the court, and they did. The ice cold PowerAde cooler that they dumped on me in the locker room after the game was a moment to share with this team that I'll never forget."

The Panthers will look to make it No. 601 when they are back in action next Wednesday, Feb. 21, hosting Embry-Riddle in SSC action. Tip-off for the game is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Clemente Center. 

FIT women post a road win Saturday.

Williams and Sedlakova carry FIT women to victory

WEST PALM BEACH - After losing four straight up until Wednesday night's game against Barry, Florida Tech (11-13, SSC 8-10) increased its win streak to two, routing the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish (4-20, SSC 3-15) 61-52 on Saturday afternoon at Rubin Arena.

Running the Crimson and Gray offense, senior DeLise Williams knocked down 17 points on a 6-for-15 shooting effort, while amassing seven boards, three steals and a team-high four assists in the weekend outing. Williams currently holds the 12th spot in the SSC for scoring, totaling 309 points, the highest inside the Panthers lineup.

Behind her, Junior Tereza Sedlakova chipped in with 10 points, seven rebounds, and three steals, while senior Kailyn Ebb tallied seven rebounds to increase her seasonal total to 147. With her numbers, the AccoKeek native earned the 14th spot in the SSC for total boards.

As a team, Florida Tech turned 19 Sailfish turnovers into 16 points, and held a 21-15 edge over PBA in points from the bench. Additionally, the Panthers cumulatively shot 32.3 percent from the floor, 27.3 percent from behind the arc and 64.3 percent from the charity strip. With tonight's victory, the Panthers climbed to the sixth spot in the SSC standings.

The Sailfish started off the game jumping out to a 5-0 lead, until Florida Tech raced back at the 6:56 minute mark to move past PBA, 6-5. From there, the teams continued to trade points until FIT took a 4-1 run to close the first frame ahead, 18-11.

In the second quarter, Palm Beach closed the gap by three, but the Panthers quickly drained four back-to-back baskets to overlap the Sailfish, 22-15. Although the squads shared baskets heading into the final minute, Florida Tech managed to score with one second left to enter the locker room ahead, 31-24.

In the third period, the Sailfish closed the FIT margin 31-29 at the 8:32 mark, but the Melbourne lineup kept sinking baskets, enlarging its stretch to six with 4:47 left to play. However, Palm Beach rallied back and managed to enter the final frame with the score tied at 43-43.

During the fourth quarter, FIT kept the Sailfish offense scoreless for two entire minutes, rolling past PBA 52-45 at the 6:31 mark. However, Palm Beach attempted to erase the gap on multiple occasions, but the Crimson and Gray continued to knock down baskets to maintain the lead. Capping things off, the Panthers final basket came with one second left to play, when Amanda Allen drained a three-pointer to wrap up the game, 61-52.

The Panthers will now return home to host the Embry-Riddle Eagles on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Michael Wade of Florida Tech.

Track & field teams open season

DAYTONA BEACH – The Florida Tech track & field teams kicked off their 2018 seasons Saturday at the Embry-Riddle First Chance Last Chance Meet in Daytona Beach.

Kicking off the action in the men's 3,000 meter run, men's track's Malte Stockhausen finished seventh overall with a time of 8:57.39.

Alexis Santiago then took fourth in the 60 meter hurdles at 9.04.

Kelley Johnson had a strong showing in her first collegiate track & field meet, grabbing 14th in the women's 400 meters at 1:05.74.

Nicardo Cameron was brilliant in the men's 60-meter dash, tying for first place in the race with Jerimy Strainge of Keiser at a time of 6.94.  

A trio of Panthers did well in the women's one mile run with Lia Hanus (5.41.70) besting teammate Marina DeBiasi (5.41.85) by less than a second for ninth and 10th place, respectively. Pauline Cosson finished 12th in the event at 5:52.95.

Competing for the first time in her collegiate career, Delaney Slaton placed seventh in the women's shot put with a long toss of 10.78 meters on her second attempt.

Julieta Cruz-Chang was also impressive in her first collegiate competition as she tied for third in the women's high jump event with a best mark of 1.50 meters.

In the men's high jump, Wistenly Alphonse tied for fifth overall with a result of 1.85 meters.  

Concluding the meet for the Panthers, Slaton took eighth in the discus with a best throw of 33.08 meters.

Fans can access a full breakdown of the results from the ERAU First Chance Last Chance Meet at the above link.

Next up, the track & field teams travel to Tampa, Florida for the Tampa Invitational on Friday, Mar. 2.

FIT softball team splits a pair.

Panthers split in Softball Classic

MELBOURNE, - On Saturday afternoon, Florida Tech (6-6) split its twin bill for the second day of the 2018 Softball Classic. In the rematch against No. 22 St. Mary's, the Panthers struggled to post runs to the scoreboard and eventually fell, 4-1. Taking the field against Flagler (7-4), FIT powered past the Saints with a 5-2 victory at Nancy Bottge Field.

In the circle, Melanie Murphy (3-3) dominated the St. Augustine lineup, allotting no runs and solely two hits in seven complete innings pitched. With her performance, Murphy now ranks eighth in the SSC for strikeouts with 23.

In the box, Alexus Smith and Rachel Kraak led the Crimson and Gray lineup with a 2-for-5 performance at the plate. In the Saturday outing, Smith recorded one double, while Kraak recorded one double of her own and one triple for three RBI. Also, aiding in the Panthers offense efforts, sophomore Vanessa Rubio collected one hit and two RBI.

During the game against the Rattlers, FIT struck first in the top of the second, as Smith and Kraak joined forces to claw one run and put Florida Tech ahead, 1-0. After two scoreless innings, STMU reached the scoreboard in the fourth, driving in two runs to turn the game around and overlap the Panthers, 2-1. Unfortunately, the San Antonio offense kept rolling and eventually increased its lead again in the fifth, 3-1.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Rattlers broke through the score once more to put Florida Tech behind by three, 4-1. Entering the final inning with a three-run deficit, Smith brought the Panthers on base with a double to right center. However, the Palm Bay native was left hanging, as the Crimson and Gray eventually fell to St. Mary's, 4-1.

In the next event against Flagler, the Crimson and Gray set the tone in the bottom of the first. With bases loaded, Rubio was allotted a free base to move the runners around, while veteran Makayla Palmer cleverly used a Saints distraction to steal home and snatch another run for FIT, 2-0. After going through the lineup in the same inning, Rubio was allotted with another free base, but was shortly sent home, after Kraak flared a triple to right center to increase the Panthers stretch, 4-0.

In the fifth, the Saints managed to push one runner home on a Florida Tech troubled throw, but Murphy flawlessly held Flagler scoreless for the remainder of the game and sealed the deal for FIT, 4-1.

Tomorrow, the Panthers will wrap up the 2018 Softball Classic with a second go against Flagler at 3 p.m. ET.

FIT had a good day at the plate.

Panthers sweep Drury in baseball doubleheader

 On Saturday afternoon, Florida Tech (3-5) officially opened the season at Andy Seminick-Less Hall Field with two wins over the Drury Panthers (0-2). In the first event, FIT powered past Drury with an 11-1 victory, and routed the Springfield lineup 7-4 in the second game of the day.

On the mound, Ty Cohen (2-0) and Sam Crocker (1-1) earned one win each during the Saturday outing. Taking the mound first, Cohen struck out seven, allowing solely two hits and no runs in the seven complete innings pitched. During the following matchup, Crocker tallied two strikeouts and allotted six hits within the five innings he pitched.

Bringing the heat to the Panther lineup, junior Jacob Buser ended the day with a 4-for-7 performance in the box. Of the four hits recorded, Buser blasted three doubles for a .571 batting average, and drove home five RBI. 

Pitching in with five RBI of his own, senior Daniel Szpik recorded two doubles during his 2-for-5 effort at the plate. Adding two RBI to the Crimson and Gray total, junior Zach Orchard ended the doubleheader going 3-for-7 with a .429 batting average. 

Aiding the FIT offense with a .500 batting average, senior Ryan Sinzenich accumulated three hits on six at bats for an RBI and one double.

As a team, Florida Tech amassed 20 hits, seven doubles and 17 RBI for a cumulative .317 batting average.

In the first game, the Panthers set the tone with a run in the bottom of the first to take the lead, 1-0. Entering the second ahead by one, FIT posted one more run on the scoreboard to make it a 2-0 game. Keeping the Crimson and Gray bats hot, Sinzenich and Jakob Newton joined forces in the third to post two more runs on the scoreboard for FIT, 4-0. 

After a scoreless fourth inning, Florida Tech burst again in the bottom of the fifth, as a sac fly by Buser and a single by Newton drove in two more points for the Melbourne lineup, 6-0. From there, Szpik and Buser flared one double apiece to increase the FIT stretch by nine in the sixth inning.

Although Drury scored one run in the top of the eighth, Florida Tech answered back with two runs to further impose its lead, 11-1. In the top of the ninth Rhett Willis held the Drury lineup blank to wrap up the win for FIT, 11-1.

Moving into the second game, Florida Tech set the pace yet again, but this time with Buser pulling home two runs in the bottom of the first move past Drury, 2-0. However, the Springfield lineup closed the margin in the second, 2-1. Up by one in the bottom half of the inning, FIT would manage to find home plate once more on a Szpik double that was sent down the left field line to push in three runners, 5-1. 

Although the four run deficit, Drury turned the game around in the third, driving in three runs to cut the Florida Tech lead, 5-4. After a scoreless fourth and fifth however, Szpik would post one more run for the Panthers in the sixth, before an eighth inning error Drury granted FIT one more run to make it a 7-4 game. In the ninth, Drew Beyer earned his second save of the season to grant FIT the 7-4 victory.

Next up, Florida Tech will host Flagler on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. ET.