COLUMBUS, Ga. – Taylor Peterson and Nicole Shinsky each homers as the Florida Institute of Technology defeated Young Harris College 8-2 Friday (Feb. 13) afternoon at Cougar Field in the opening game of the Lady Cougars Softball Classic.

The Panthers improved to 6-2 while the Mountain Lions fell to 5-3. Young Harris continues play Saturday (Feb. 14) at the tournament with two more games. Young Harris will face Tusculum College at noon before taking on Belmont Abbey College at 2:30 p.m.

Peterson gave Florida Tech a 3-0 first-inning lead on her three-run homer – her first of 2015 – to left-center field off YHC starter Jeanie Perrucci (1-2). Shinsky led off the fourth inning with a home run to left field to give the Panthers a 4-0 lead.

Young Harris scored a run in the bottom of the fifth as the Mountain Lions took advantage of three FIT errors. Young Harris got its other run in the seventh. Pinch hitter Maddie Garner stroked a double down the left field line before Sarah Magill added an RBI single up the middle.

Magill and Sydnee Weaver each had two hits for the Mountain Lions.

Rachel Pence (5-1) earned the complete-game win for the Panthers as she struck out five.  Brigit Godfrey, Peterson, Shinsky and Kaci Kelley had two hits apiece for Florida Tech.