Tech Beats Palm Beach Atlantic with Great Pitching, 7-3
MELBOURNE, FL- Great pitching led the Florida Tech Panthers to a 7-3 victory today over visiting Palm Beach Atlantic. Sophomore pitcher Brett Backman
(Whitby, Ontario) started the game for the Panthers, going five innings and allowing three runs on four hits and five walks while striking out three.
Junior reliever Jody Danca (Naples, FL) entered the game in the sixth inning and went the distance for the Panthers. He earned his first save of the year
by pitching four scoreless innings while allowing two hits and a walk while striking out six.
The Sailfish started strong, scoring a run in the first and second innings. The visitors started the game with a leadoff walk to senior Joel Hartman
(Bradenton, FL). He stole second and eventually scored on a fielder’s choice. In the second innings senior Brad Misskelley (Port St. Lucie, FL) singled to
the left side, stole second, and scored on a fielder’s choice.
The Panthers followed suit, scoring a run in the first and another in the second. Senior Bryan Stanton (Merritt Island, FL) led off the first inning with a
double to right-center, reached third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a throwing error by the Sailfish shortstop. Tech scored their second run when
junior Eamonn Powers (Staten Island, N.Y.) led of the inning with a double down the leftfield line. He advanced to third and eventually scored on two
consecutive fielders’ choice.
The Panthers took the lead in the third inning. Junior Jon Baksh (Mississauga, Canada) smacked a one-out double down the leftfield line. Senior Devin
Hopkins (Pembroke Pines, FL) drove Baksh in with a single through the right side. Hopkins would later score on a two-out error by the Sailfish leftfielder.
Florida Tech padded their lead in the fourth inning with another run. Sophomore Nick Brennan (Detriot, MI) hit a one-out single through the right side and
quickly stole second. After reaching third on a fielder’s choice, he scored the Panther’s fifth run on a single by junior Steve Condotta (Mississauga,
Canada).
Palm Beach Atlantic scored their third and final run of the game in the top of the fifth when junior Chelsey Davis (Brevard, FL) touched home on a Hartman
single.
The Panther’s scored again in the eighth inning. Tech led off the inning with consecutive singles by Brennan and Stanton. Brennan scored on a well-placed
sacrifice bunt by Steve Condotta, and Stanton came in on Hopkins single.
Bryan Stanton led the Panthers offensively, going three for five while scoring two runs; two of his hits were doubles. Eamonn Powers went two for three
with a walk, a double, a run, and an RBI. Condotta and Hopkins each had two RBIs; Nick Brennan went two for four with two runs and an RBI.
The Panthers improve to 3-2 on the season, while the Sailfish fall to 0-3. The two teams will meet again in a double-header tomorrow. Before the game the
Panthers will be honoring three Tech Baseball Alumni- Andy Seminick, Les Hall, and Tim Wakefield. Festivities begin as early as 10:00 am. First pitch for
game one is scheduled for 12:00 pm.
