second career no-hitter for Hendrian
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Florida Tech softball played their sixth game in four days on Friday night, this time on the road as they began a Sunshine State Conference series with Palm Beach Atlantic.
While the Panther lineup had one of their strongest games of the season to date, they only needed to score once on this night as Alex Hendrian fired her second career no-hitter to help Tech take the series opener, 8-0.
Florida Tech needed just two batters to take the lead as Ella Niles drew a leadoff walk and then came around to score courtesy of a Sailfish throwing error when Kelly McLaughlin attempted to bunt her over.
McLaughlin came into the score with two out thanks to a wild pitch with Miranda Schwartz at the plate. The Crimson and Gray further added to their lead the following frame as Mya Ogbodiewgu doubled to start the inning.
After Kathryn Sexton and Samantha Shortal were retired, Celeste Casillas singled to center to put runners at the corners for Niles.
Niles’ single drove in both runners and after stealing a second, she would score on a McLaughlin double to make it 5-0.
The Tech offense continued to make Hendrian’s night as smooth as possible the following when Katie Hogue’s third home run of the season led off the stanza.
The Panther outburst was capped in the following inning when Jolie Miracle’s two-out triple brought home McLaughlin and Hogue followed with an RBI single to cap the scoring.
Hendrian was the star of the night, needing just 66 pitches to get through five innings as the run rule required only that many innings.
Only three Sailfish batters reached base all night: Elisa Grande on a two-out walk in the second, Isabella Hernandez on a fifth inning error and Toree Hoobler two batters later on a walk.
With two runners in scoring position, Hendrian struck out Rhiannon Sibbett, her third of the night, to seal the no-no.
The Panthers lead the all-time series with Palm Beach Atlantic 38-29 and are 11-16 at the Sailfish’s home field.
This was Hendrian’s second career no-hitter, alongside the one she tossed on February 28, 2023, vs. Tiffin. She is the first Panther with multiple no-hitters in their career since Melanie Murphy.
This was the first no-hitter by a Panther in SSC play since Melanie Murphy did so on April 26, 2018, against Lynn and the first on the road since Rachel Pence threw one on April 8, 2016, at Eckerd.
Ella Niles extended her hitting streak to eight games and remains a perfect 13-for-13 in stolen bases on the campaign.
Mya Ogbodiewgu’s three hits were a career-best.
UP NEXT: The Panthers will conclude their series with the Sailfish tomorrow with a doubleheader. The first pitch is scheduled for noon.
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