ROME -- The trip to Oklahoma City is just one win away as the Lady Hawks won the South Super Regional opener 3-1 over Florida Tech Friday evening.

Shorter (40-15) got on the board in the third as three runs crossed the plate. Tori Etheridge walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second an infield single from Niki Cook. Maggie Meacham moved both into scoring position in the next at bat with a sacrifice bunt. Kendall Johnson was then walked to load the bases, before Ericka Bynum hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to plate Etheridge. The scoring didn't stop there, however, as the Panther's catcher then over threw third, allowing both Cook and Johnson to score to make it a 3-0 game.

Florida Tech (38-19) answered in the sixth with a run, for the 3-1 final score, as Ashley Montion singled through the right side to plate Nicole Miller.

Amanda Blanchard earned the win for Shorter to move to 18-4 on the year, allowing one unearned runs on four hits with four strikeouts through six innings of work. Kalei Kimbrell recorded her NCAA DII leading 8th save of the year, with a scoreless seventh inning.

In the seventh, the Panthers looked to rally, as Elizabeth Eby and Brigit Godfrey recorded back to back hits, but neither scored as Elaine Brown lined into a double play to end the game.

Cook and Paige Rowland each recorded two hits on the day, while Hannah Draper and Bynum added one each.

Shorter will go for the series win Saturday afternoon at 1:00pm.