ST. LEO, Fla. (Baseball) - During Friday night's game under the lights, Florida Tech (24-15, SSC 8-5) took an early lead over Saint Leo (18-21, SSC 3-13), bumping up the margin after a two RBI laser was shot over the right field fence, which boosted the teams momentum and allowed them to walk away with the 7-4 win over the Lions.

In the first game of the series, the Panthers snatched 11 hits for seven runs, of which two were extra bases. David Wilson, Grant McKown, Dan Spzik and Trent Masih recorded two hits each, while Reid Neal took home his seventh seasonal home run. On the mound, senior Brett Porter earned his first seasonal win in 1.2 innings pitched, allowing one hit and no runs. Drew Beyer sealed the deal for Florida Tech, collecting his sixth seasonal save by shutting down the SLU offense in 1.2 innings with three strikeouts and no hits.

The Panthers set the pace quickly, as Florida Tech took its position on the scoreboard in the second after David Wilson punched a single through the left side to send home Daniel Szpik. With a runner on first and second, a flustered Lions pitcher threw a wild pitch to allot an extra base to both runners. Through the next two batters, the Lions pitcher continued to struggle, allowing back-to-back walks to the Panthers lineup, while granting the second run of the inning.

Now ahead 2-0, bases loaded, Florida Tech struck once more when Trent Masih grounded into a double play that gave Wilson the clear path to home plate before the final out was made. 

At the bottom of the second, the Panthers defense blanked the Lions lineup before heading into the third, where John Sternagel walked and later stole second base. The senior shortstop then headed home on a muffed throw by the Saint Leo third baseman, which put FIT ahead, 4-0. 

Battling back, SLU was given a break by the Panthers defense after the first batter reached base on a fielding error, followed by a walk and wild pitch that put both runners in scoring position. Reaching the board on their next three at bats, Saint Leo closed the gap by one before the inning closed, 4-3.

Tying the game in the sixth, the Lions offense generated another run before being halted the remainder of the contest. Breaking out the bats in the seventh, Florida Tech busted the tied score after Red Neal sent a long ball over the right field fence that stretched the Panthers lead. The Crimson and Gray put their final touches in ninth, after Capra raked in another run for the team with a single to right field. 

Closing out the contest, Beyer tamed the Lions lineup taking the mound in the eighth with one out and two runners on base. After a ground out to second base and both runners advancing to scoring positions, Beyer struck-out the final Lions batter to close the inning scoreless. Again in the ninth, the Sarasota native sat down the first two batters before the Panthers defense closed out the game with the final out.

The Panthers return to the action tomorrow afternoon to wrap up the series doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. ET. For more information, please visit FloridaTechSports.com