Tech Falls to #14 University of Tampa 5-0

MELBOURNE, FL- The Florida Tech Panthers dropped a defensive bout to the #14 University of Tampa Spartans, 5-0. Tech starting pitcher, junior Jay Crouse
(Naples, FL), went six innings and allowed three runs on six hits and four walks while striking out three.

Junior reliever Jody Dance (Naples, FL) pitched the seventh inning and allowed two runs on three hits while striking out one. Senior Mike Succio Jr.
(Melbourne, FL) pitched the final two innings of relief for the Panthers, allowing only two hits and keeping the visitors scoreless.

Senior Bryan Stanton (Merritt Island, FL) was the only Tech batter to collect two hits, going 2-4 at the plate. The other Panther singles were off the bats
of junior Steve Condotta (Mississauga, Canada), senior Devin Hopkins (Pembroke Pines, FL), and sophomore Brendan Twomey (Boca Raton, FL).

Tampa scored the first run of the game in the fourth inning. Jay Crouse walked the first batter, senior Lee Cruz (Pasco, FL). Cruz advanced to third on a
successful hit-and-run play by the next batter, senior Orlando Rosales (Dade City, FL), and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of senior Billy Wimberly
(Tampa, FL).

Tampa scored two more in the sixth inning. After his team loaded the bases with a couple singles and a walk senior Kurt Baxley (Wesley Chapel, FL) smacked
a two-run single through the left side of the infield.

The Spartans scored again in the seventh. One of their two runs of the inning came off a one-out homerun by junior Roberto Mena (Rio Grande, PR). Their
second run was driven in on an Orlando Rosales double to center field, scoring Lee Cruz who stood at second.

With the loss the Panthers fall to 5-3 on the season; Tampa improves to 4-3. Tech hits the road this weekend to play a three-game series against Florida
Gulf Coast on Saturday and Sunday. They will be home again next Tuesday, hosting Sunshine State Conference rivals Lynn University in a non-conference
match. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 pm.