Panthers Drop Non-Conference Match vs. Nova Southeastern

Fort Lauderdale, FL- The Florida Tech Panthers lost another high-scoring game against the Nova Southeastern Sharks, 14-9. Tech faced the Sharks in a
three-game Sunshine State Conference series this past weekend, dropping two of the three in a series that saw 59 runs scored total. With the loss today the
Panthers fall to 25-22.

All but two of the Panther starters hit safely in the game; junior Jon Baksh (Mississauga, Canada) and senior Randy Pitts (Melbourne, FL) each had two hits
on the night. Jon Baksh went 2-4 with a double and two walks while scoring three runs. Randy Pitts went 2-5 with a walk, a run, and two RBIs.

In the top of the first inning Tech put one run on the board. Jon Baksh hit a two-out single to get on for the Panthers. He stole second base and scored
from second on an RBI single by Randy Pitts.

Tech scored two more runs in the second inning. Freshman Kevin Villa (Miami, FL) led off the inning with a double to center field. Sophomore Nick Brennan
(Detroit, MI) later stepped to the plate for the first time in the game and smacked a two-run round tripper over the right field wall.

Despite the offensive efforts by the Panthers Tech’s pitching had no answer for the Sharks’ bats. The home team managed to score nine runs in the first
three innings to take a 9-3 lead. The Panthers clawed back in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs, to pull within two.

Junior Steve Condotta (Mississauga, Canada) led off the inning with a single to center field. Jon Baksh followed with a double to right field, advancing
Condotta to third. Steve came in to score on a fielding error by the Sharks third baseman, allowing senior Devin Hopkins (Pembroke Pines, FL) to reach
first. Baksh took his second base on the night when he stole third during the following at-bat. The Panthers loaded the bases with a walk to Randy Pitts.
Jon Baksh scored the Panthers second run on a sacrifice fly and Devin Hopkins eventually scored on a wild pitch. Tech scored their final run on an infield
groundball that scored Randy Pitts.

The Panthers scored their final two runs in the sixth and seventh innings, but the Sharks continued their offensive onslaught. They scored five more runs
in the game to take the match 14-9.

Sophomore Brett Backman (Whitby, Ontario) received the loss for the Panthers, falling to 5-4 on the season.

Tech hits the road again tomorrow, visiting Embry Riddle at Daytona Beach. The game is scheduled to start at 6:00 pm.