Panthers Continue Win Streak in Dominating Fashion, 13-3
MELBOURNE, FL- The Florida Tech Panthers continued to dominate their visiting opponents, beating the Assumption Greyhounds 13-3. Tech has outscored their
last three opponents 70-11 in their five-game win streak. All but three of the Panthers’ 13 wins this season have been by a more than four runs; Tech has
won six games this season by 10+ runs.
Sophomore Nick Brennan (Detroit, MI) continued his aggressive approach at the plate and on the base paths. Against the Greyhounds Brennan went 3-4 with a
homerun while scoring two and driving in two. He also stole his eighth base of the year, maintaining his perfect steal percentage.
Senior Anthony Mendillo (Rockledge, FL) went 3-5 with a run scored and three RBIs. Panther senior Chris Pond (Cary, NC) also went deep for Florida Tech,
smacking his first homerun of the year. On the day he was 2-5 with two runs and three RBIs.
Tech took an early lead in the first on great fundamentals and sloppy Greyhound pitching. Nick Brennan led off the inning with a bunt single and safely
stole second. The visiting pitcher hit the next batter, putting runners on first and second and after getting a fly out the hurler hit the next batter to
load the bases. Junior Eamonn Powers (Staten Island, NY) drove in the Panther run with a deep sac fly to leftfield.
Assumption tied the game in the top of the second on an RBI single by sophomore Chris De Simone (Johnston, RI). Tech responded with eight runs in the
bottom of the inning on eight hits and one Greyhound error. After retiring the leadoff batter Anthony Mendillo singled to left. The next two Panther
batters smacked back-to-back blasts; Chris Pond smashed a two-run shot down the right field line and Nick Brennan followed suit, hitting his solo shot in
the same spot. Junior Jon Baksh (Mississauga, Canada) drove in the Panthers’ next run with a double. He stole third and crossed the plate on a senior Devin
Hopkins (Pembroke Pines, FL) single. After the visitors got the second out of the inning Hopkins stole second. The next three Panther batters each hit
singles and on his second at-bat of the inning Anthony Mendillo hit a two-run single to leftfield to cap the Panther scoring.
Tech scored two more runs in the fourth, one in the sixth and another in the seventh to take a commanding 13-1 lead. Assumption tried to fight back,
scoring two runs in the ninth inning, but they could not overcome the home team’s lead.
All nine Tech starters reached base safely today; only one starter did not get at least one hit. The win brings the Panthers to 13-6 overall heading into
this weekends three-game series against conference rivals Eckerd College; Assumption falls to 2-5. This weekend’s series marks the beginning of Sunshine
State Conference play for the Panthers. The first game is scheduled for 3:00 pm Friday. The second and third games will be played on Saturday starting at
12:00 pm.