Florida Tech Defeats Flagler 9-4 In Baseball Action
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — A Michael Messana RBI triple to left-center started a five-run fourth inning that helped propel Florida Tech to a 9-4 victory of
Flagler College in a non-conference baseball game Wednesday night at Flagler Stadium.
Down 3-0 to open the top of the fourth, Eammon Powers led off by reaching on a fielding error by the Flagler second baseman. Messana followed with his
triple scoring Powers to get the Panthers on the board. Anthony Mendillo followed with an infield single to third that plated Messana, but the throw to
first base was off the bag and got away allowing Mendillo to advance to second. After a strikeout and a walk, Bryan Stanton reached on a fielder’s choice
as Nick Brennan was put out at second. With runners at the corners Steve Condotta singled to third on a high bounder behind the bag which scored Mendillo
to tie the game at 3-all. Jon Baksh put the Panthers up for good with a single up the middle scoring Stanton from third. Florida Tech scored the fifth run
on a double steal attempt. Baksh got hung up in the round down, but Condotta scored from third before Braksh was ruled out.
The Panthers (8-5) added two runs in the fifth and single runs in eighth and ninth innings.
Messana went 4-for-5 at the plate with a pair of singles, a double and a triple to go along with two runs scored and an RBI. Condotta added a single and a
double, two RBI and a run scored. Mendillo singled and doubled, drove in three runs and scored another. Powers also singled and doubled for Florida Tech.
Brett Backman (2-1) tossed six innings and surrendered seven hits and three earned runs while he struck out five. Matt Woods earned his first save of the
season tossing three scoreless innings and allowing four hits.
The Saints (9-7) did their damage in the third. Randy Miller (Jacksonville, Fla./Florida CC-Jacksonville) hit a two-run double down the left field line to
give Flagler an early 2-0 lead. Miller would later score on a throwing error by the Florida Tech shortstop.
Barry Cressley (Meadvillle, Pa./Hillsborough CC) (0-1) took the loss after hurling four innings, allowing six hits but just one earned run. Miller went
2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Shane Darnofall (Corry, Pa./Hillsborough CC) hit a solo home run, his first of the year, in the sixth inning.
Florida Tech hosts Embry-Riddle on Feb. 28 at 2:30 p.m. at Seminick-Hall Field.
