Panthers Sweep Saint Leo on St. Patricks Day

SAINT LEO, Fla. (baseball) Florida Tech (19-8, 4-2 SSC) swept the doubleheader today coming out ahead two out of three for the road Sunshine State
Conference Series against the Saint Leo Lions (17-12, 2-4 SSC) today at the Southard Stadium.

Tech won game one 5-3 before wrapping up the sweep with a 10-5 win in the seven-inning nightcap. The Panthers rallied to take two out of three in the
weekend series after Saint Leo’s 10-3 win in Friday night’s opener.

The opening contest of the day was a see saw affair with the Panthers jumping out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning. The Panthers started the day
scoring in the top of the second off of runs by sophomore Sam Palace (Clarkston, Mich.) and junior Brendan Twomey (Boca Raton, Fla.) each hitting a double
and single respectively. Freshman Trevor Hearl (Cape Coral, Fla.) plated both runs singling two left center.

The Lions answered in the fourth when Eric Spicer (Jacksonville, Fla.) delivered a two-run home run to tie the score at 2-2.

Saint Leo took the lead in the fifth with an RBI single from VanGuilder but the Panthers tied it again in the sixth off a shot over the left field wall by
Palace.

With extra innings pending, Tech scored a pair of runs in the top of the ninth to come away with the win. Junior Nick Brennan (Detroit, Mich.) scored the
fourth run after reaching on an error by the second baseman. The Freshman second baseman from Tech JD Davidson (Naples, Fla.) plated the game winner on a
triple shot to left center. Senior Steve Condotta (Mississauga, Ontario) plated the insurance run bringing Davidson home on a effective bunt.

Sophomore starter Mike Piazza (4-0), hailing from Port St. Lucie, grabbed the win in eight innings of work allowing nine hits on three runs while fanning
four for the outing. Reliever and fellow sophomore Jake Koch (Orlando, Fla.) went the last inning for the save, his fifth on the year. He allowed two hits,
while striking out two and walking one batter.

Palace went 3-for-4 with two runs and one RBI. Twomey finished 2-for-4 with one run, while Hearl was 1-for3 with two RBI’s.

The second game was close as well with the Panthers once again jumping to a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Davidson and Condotta launched the first two runs after Davidson roped one to centerfield and Condotta immediately proceeded to smack one heard to short.
Sophomore catcher Kevin Villa (Miami, Fla.) was the final hit of the inning plating Condotta after Davidson scored on an throwing error by the Lion’s first
baseman.

A solo home run by Matt Prowant (Dade City, Fla.) brought the Lions within one in the second.

Again the crimson and gray sluggers’ Brennan scored answered in the fourth with Davidson bringing Brennan home.
After Tech stretched the lead to 3-1 with a run in the top of the fourth, Devon Cason’s (Tampa, Fla.) two-run homer tied the game again in the bottom of
the inning.

Tech then put together a six-run sixth inning to take control and wrap up the sweep and the series.

For the game, Davidson, Condotta and Villa each went 3-for-4 for the day. Senior Eammon Powers went 2-for-5 leading the way with three RBI’s while Condotta
led with three runs.

Freshman hurler Jon Cornelius (Land O’ Lakes, Fla.) notched his second victory almost going the distance throwing 6.1 innings. He allowed five runs on six
hits, striking out three and walking one batter. Junior Brett Backman (Ontario, Canada) closed the game with one hit and two K’s

The Panthers will be back in action on Tuesday, March 20th traveling to St. Augustine to play Flagler College at a 6:00 p.m. game time.

GAME ONE
Florida Tech 5, St. Leo 3 (03/17/07 at Saint Leo, Fla) (Game 1)
———————————————————————-
Florida Tech…….. 020 001 002 – 5 9 2 (18-8, 3-2)
St. Leo…………. 000 210 000 – 3 11 1 (17-11, 2-3)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: Florida Tech – Mike Piazza; Jake Koch(9). St. Leo – Shane Buriff; Charlie Blume(7).
Win-Mike Piazza(4-0) Save-Jake Koch(5) Loss-Charlie Blume(1-1) T-2:37 A-279
HR FTB – Sam Palace.
HR SLB – Eric Spicer.
Buriff faced 1 batter in the 7th.
Game: FTB26

GAME TWO
Florida Tech 10, St. Leo 5 (03/17/07 at Saint Leo, Fla.) (Game 2)
———————————————————————-
Florida Tech…….. 200 106 1 – 10 16 2 (19-8, 4-2)
St. Leo…………. 010 200 2 – 5 7 3 (17-12, 2-4)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: Florida Tech – Jonathan Cornelius; Brett Backman(7). St. Leo – Carter Clements;
Santi Arencibia(6); Eric Nickolaison(6).
Win-Jonathan Cornelius(2-1) Loss-Carter Clements(1-4) T-2:25 A-0
HR SLB – Devon Cason; Matt Prowant.
Game: FTB27