MELBOURNE, Fla. (Baseball) - Florida Tech upset the No. 3 Tampa Spartans with an excellent performance during Friday night's game under the lights at Andy Seminick Les-Hall Field. The Panthers managed 12 hits and 14 runs and held the Spartans to just eight runs on 10 hits. With the win, the Panthers now advance to 18-11 on the season and 4-3 in the conference, while marking the first win over UT since 2013.

The Crimson and Gray line-up was uncontainable throughout the entire game, as nearly the entire lineup recorded at least one hit apiece. Daniel Szpik led the Panthers offense, ending the night with a 3-for-4 performance, blazing two home runs, and batted in four. After tonight game, the right fielder increased his slugging percentage to an impressive .602.

Catcher Ryan Sinzenich also had a strong outing, as he went 3-for-5 and collected two RBI. John Sternagel recorded his eight seasonal homerun, as he ended the match driving in three RBI and increasing his personal record to 28. The Panthers collectively managed one double and three home runs among the total 12 hits.

On the mound, starting pitcher Ty Cohen recorded his fourth win of the season. The junior struck-out three during his five complete innings pitched, while allotting five runs on five hits. Closer Luke Lorah fastened the FIT win, as he tamed the Spartans bats in three innings. The senior struck-out four while allowing two hits and no runs. 

After a quick jump in the first inning, Tampa was able to put FIT at a three-run deficit. Attempting to respond, the Panthers generated a run of their own to close the gap in the bottom of the first. Headed into the top of the second, Ty Cohen and the Panther defense shut down the Spartans offense to end the inning holding them scoreless.

In the bottom of the second, the Crimson and Gray's bats broke through, as they clawed seven runs. Third baseman Reid Neal led the Panthers firepower, as he flared an RBI single to right field, closing the Florida Tech deficit, 3-2.  Sternagel followed up blasting a three-run bomb to left field, bringing the Crimson and Gray ahead, 5-2.

The Panthers line-up was on fire, as Nick Capra continued the hot streak with an RBI single, while Sinzenich batted in two more runners by driving a hard double to center field. Florida Tech was now overlapping Tampa, 8-3. Not satisfied, the FIT offense snatched two more runs from the Spartans in the bottom of the third, as Spzik banged out his first home run of the night, bumping up the Florida Tech margin, 10-3.

The Spartans eventually picked up two more on an RBI double, but the Panthers roared back, as Spzik's batting frenzy struck again, delivering his second shot of the night behind the left center fence. No. 3 Spartans entered the sixth with a seven-run discrepancy, and managed to put themselves on the scoreboard again with two runs to close the gap, 12-8.

Despite the impressive lead on the nationally ranked SSC rival, the Crimson and Gray clinched another two runs in the sixth and seventh, with a sac-fly by Trent Masih and an RBI single by Capra.

Both dugouts went blank in the eight, while in the ninth Lorah sealed the overpowering win for the Panthers when he shut the Spartans hopes with a quick double play and groundout.

The Panthers return to the playing field tomorrow afternoon to finish the series against the No. 3 Spartans in a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. For live coverage, log on to floridatechsports.com/live!