Davidson and Powers Slug Home Runs, But Florida Tech Falls 10-3 at Saint Leo

admin March 16, 2007

SAINT LEO, Fla. (baseball)– The Florida Tech baseball team traveled cross-state to open a three-game series against Sunshine State Conference rival Saint
Leo, but came up on the short end of a 10-3 decision Friday night at Southard Stadium.

Freshman second baseman J.D. Davidson (Naples, Fla.) and senior first baseman Eammon Powers (Staten Island, N.Y.) slammed solo home runs to stake the
Panthers to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the Lions answered quickly with three runs in the first inning and a two spot in the second inning to jump
out to a 5-1 advantage, a lead that they would not relinquish.

Florida Tech (17-8, 2-2 SSC) plated a single run in the third inning as shortstop Steve Condotta brought home freshman left fielder Trevor Hearl (Cape
Coral, Fla.) on a run-scoring ground out to trim Saint Leo’s lead to 5-3.

Saint Leo (17-10, 2-2 SSC) pounded out 16 hits in the game, adding single runs in the third, sixth and eighth innings, and posted a two-run fourth inning,
as the Lions scored in six of the eight innings in which they batted. Eight of the nine hitters in the Saint Leo lineup hit safely in the contest,
including five Lions who recorded multiple hits. Junior catcher Ricky Nolan (Seminole, Fla.) banged out four hits and drove in two runs to pace the home
team, while junior designated hitter Yunior Tabares (Tampa, Fla.) collected three and senior first baseman Eric Spicer (Jacksonville, Fla.) added a home
run and four runs scored.

Junior Ryan Clark (Tampa, Fla.) struck out 11 batters over seven innings to earn the victory for Saint Leo. Clark (5-2) allowed three earned runs on eight
hits and walked just one.

Florida Tech senior starting pitcher Jay Crouse (Naples, Fla.) suffered his first loss of the year, surrendering six runs over two innings of work and
falling to 4-1 on the season. Senior Jody Danca (Naples, Fla.) provided the Panthers with five solid innings out of the bullpen, scattering just two earned
runs on four hits and striking out five.

The SSC rivals conclude their series Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.

Saint Leo 10, Florida Tech 3 (03/16/07 at Saint Leo, Fla.) (Game 1)
———————————————————————-
Florida Tech…….. 201 000 000 – 3 8 1 (17-8, 2-2)
Saint Leo……….. 321 201 01X – 10 16 1 (17-10, 2-2)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: Florida Tech – Jay Crouse; Jody Danca(3); Tim Arsenault(8). Saint Leo – Ryan Clark; Eric Nickolaison(8).

Win-Ryan Clark(5-2) Loss-Jay Crouse(4-1) T-2:45 A-213.
HR: Florida Tech – JD Davidson; Eamonn Powers; Saint Leo – Eric Spicer.

Christa Parulis-Kaye

Senior Woman Administrator

Sports Information Director

Florida Tech

150 West University Blvd.

Melbourne, Florida 32901

(321) 674-7484

FAX (321) 674-7502

WORK CELL (321) 537-9619

cparulis@fit.edu

Website: http://gopanthers.fit.edu