Panthers Continue Streak with Win Over Spartans, 8-3

MELBOURNE, FL- The Florida Tech Panthers extended their win-streak to ninegames with today’s win over visiting St. Thomas Aquinas, 8-3. The Panthers have
scored an amazing 114 runs during the streak, and only allowed 20 runs.

Junior Jon Baksh (Mississauga, Canada) went a solid 4-5, including a double and a triple. He scored twice while driving in one RBI. Freshman Kevin Villa
(Miami, FL) showed a lot of promise, going 2-3 with a double; he scored once and led the Panthers with three runs batted in.

The game was held scoreless heading into the third inning. Spartan lead off batter, freshman Brett Backer (Closter, NJ), started the inning with a double
and advanced to third on an error by the Panther third baseman. Senior Jason Pominski (Shirley, NY) later drove him in with an RBI double.

Tech answered back in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Nick Brennan (Detroit, MI) led of the inning for the Panthers by belting a triple over the
centerfielder’s head. Brennan scored on a Jon Baksh RBI double to centerfield. The next batter, senior Devin Hopkins (Pembroke Pines, FL), was hit by a
pitch, putting runners on first and second. Both Panthers later advanced on a Spartan balk, putting both of them in scoring position for junior Eamonn
Powers (Staten Island, NY). Powers cashed in on the opportunity, driving a two-run double to right center. At the end of the inning the Panthers were up
3-1.

St. Thomas scored again in the fourth, pulling within one run, but that did not last long. The Panthers scored another run in the fourth, and added two
more in the fifth to pad their lead.

In the seventh inning the visitors scored their final run of the game. Tech added their final two in the bottom of the inning. With runners on second and
third Kevin Villa smacked a two-run single up the middle, bringing the score to 8-3.

Freshman Mike Piazza (Port St. Lucie, FL) picked up the win for the Panthers, improving his record to 2-0. He pitched six innings and allowed six hits, two
runs, and two walks while striking out seven. Sophomore Mike Campbell (Melbourne, FL) finished the game, pitching three innings and allowing four hits, one
run and no walks while striking out two. Campbell picked up the save, his second of the year.

Tech improves to 17-6 overall; St. Thomas falls to 2-4. The Panthers host the Spartans tomorrow at 3:00 pm before heading on the road this weekend, playing
SSC rivals Lynn University in a three-game conference series.