ST. LEO, FLA. (Baseball) - Florida Tech (25-16, SSC 9-6) walked away with an overwhelming win over the Saint Leo Lions during Game 3 of the SSC series on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers suffered a though loss during the first game of the doubleheader, but quickly roared back in the following match-up, taking home two important conference wins.

On the day, the FIT offense had a stellar performance, as five FIT players recorded at least one home run each. Grant McKown was the ruler of the Panthers "slug-fest", as the senior took home three home runs and three RBI. Daniel Spzik collected two dingers and six RBI, while John Sternagel, Reid Neal and Ryan Sinzenich shot one bomb apiece. Collectively, Florida Tech clutched 27 hits that produced 22 runs.On the mound, Colin Cristello took his second seasonal win, as the sophomore allowed solely one run in three innings pitched.

The Crimson and Gray opened up the first game setting the pace, as McKown went yards flaring a deep shot behind the left field fence. However, the Lions quickly answered back in the second, as they posted three runs on the scoreboard and overlapped the Panthers, 3-1.

In the top of the third, Spzik closed the gap for FIT rushing Neal home for another Panthers run. After a three inning scoreless fragment, SLU reached the scoreboard once again in the sixth, snatching four runs and increasing their stretch over the Panthers, 7-2.

The Florida Tech lineup kept fighting, and in the seventh Spzik led the momentum blazing a three-run dinger to left field. However, the Panthers two-run discrepancy was quickly vanished by the home team, as Saint Leo collected three more runs in its offensive frame. In the eight, SLU drove in another run and ultimately topped the Panthers, 11-5.

The Panthers kick-started the second game in a batting frenzy, as McKown and Sternagel combined in back-to-back home runs in their very first at bat. Nick Capra then followed up bringing in another run on a sac-fly, while Sinzenich blasted another bomb for the Panthers, driving in two runs and putting FIT ahead, 6-0.

Eventually, the Lions reduce the gap in the third picking up three runs. As the fourth came around, McKown's bat was still raging, and the FIT first baseman delivered his third solo homer of the day.The Panthers impetus was untamable, and Florida Tech clawed five more runs in the sixth. Orchard drove in the first run on a double, while Neal and Spzik batted in two runners apiece crashing two long-shot home runs.

Florida Tech was on a roll, and the seventh inning saw the Panthers protagonists of the frame once again by grabbing two more runs and putting the Lions to distance, 14-3. SLU tried to come back picking up another run in the home offensive half, but the Crimson and Gray smeared their chances in the eight, as FIT placed three more runs on the board.

Saint Leo collected one more run in the eight, but the Panthers allowed them no room to shorten the edge, and clinched the game in overpowering fashion, 17-5.

Next up, Florida Tech heads back home for another SSC series against neighbor Rollins College. Dugouts are set to line up for Game 1 of the series at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Apr. 26. For live coverage of the event, fans can log into floridatechsports.com/live!