Tech Drops Two in Double Header Sweep by Nova Southeastern
MELBOURNE, FL- The Florida Tech Panthers were swept today by Sunshine State Conference rivals Nova Southeastern in the final two games of their series, 6-5
and 15-12. There was no lack of offense between the two teams.
Both squads loaded the bases more times than they went down 1-2-3 in order. The Sharks managed to accumulate 30 hits between the two games today, while the
Panthers added 24. The two rivals also combined for 24 walks on the day.
The first game of the day was actually the completion of yesterday’s doubleheader that was called due to rain in the top of the fifth inning.
Freshman Mike Piazza (Port St. Lucie, FL) started the game for the Panthers. He pitched four innings and allowed four runs on three hits and a walk while
striking out four. Freshman Justin Arsenault (Camillus, NY) finished the game for the Panthers, pitching the remaining three innings and allowed two runs
on five hits and a walk. Arsenault picked up the loss of the Panthers, and he falls to 1-2 on the season.
Seniors Bryan Stanton (Merritt Island, FL) and Randy Pitts (Melbourne, FL) each went 2-3 at the plate with a walk. Stanton also scored a run and drove in
an RBI; one of Randy’s hits was a double. Senior Paul Stone (Dayton, OH) went 0-1 with two walks and two runs.
Tech took an early lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first.
Bryan Stanton led off the game for the Panthers with a single to centerfield. He went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by junior Jon Baksh
(Mississauga, Canada). Baksh actually made it to third on his hit, advancing to second on the throw home and reaching third on an error by the right
fielder. Baksh scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Devin Hopkins (Pembroke Pine, FL).
Nova Southeastern quickly answered back with three runs in the second inning, but the Panthers clawed their way back with two more runs in the bottom of
the fourth inning. Tech’s first run of the inning came off a single by sophomore Nick Brennan (Detroit, MI) that scored junior Eammon Powers (Staten
Island, NY) from third. Bryan Stanton followed with an RBI single through the left side of the infield.
The game was called in the top of the fifth due to rain, and was finished today. The delay did not help the Panthers stop the visitor’s momentum, and in
the fifth inning the Sharks scored another three runs to take a 6-4 lead.
The Panthers managed to load the bases with one out but could only score one run. Paul Stone scored from third on a fielder’s choice off the bat of junior
Steve Condotta (Mississauga, Canada). Randy Pitts led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to left centerfield but could not tie the game for the
Panthers, who lost the second game of the series 6-5.
The Panthers did not seem to have an answer for the Sharks offense in the rubber match of the series. Nova Southeastern managed to score 12 runs in the
first four innings, while Tech only managed to put four on the board.
Tech went into the bottom of the seventh inning trailing 13-4, but managed to put six runs on the scoreboard to pull within three. The home team loaded the
bases on a single and two consecutive walks. The Panthers followed with two singles, scoring two runners and leaving the bases full for Steve Condotta.
Steve followed with a bases-clearing triple over the leftfielder’s head. He later scored on a Jon Baksh sacrifice fly to right field.
Both teams managed to put two more runs on the board, and when the game ended the final score stood at 15-12 in favor of the Nova Southeastern Sharks.
With the two loses the Panthers fall to 25-21 overall, 9-12 in the SSC. The Sharks improve to 26-19 overall, and 8-10 in the SSC. Tech has one more home
series to play, a three-game set against Florida Gulf Coast. The series is scheduled for May 6th and 7th, and we will be honoring all of the graduating
Panther seniors.
