ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Baseball) - Florida Tech (30-20, SSC 14-10) wrapped up the 2017 regular season with a split on Saturday evening against the Eckerd Tritons (20-30, SSC 9-15).  After falling to the Tritons in the first game 11-8, FIT bounced back and clawed Game 3, 4-2.

In the doubleheader, third baseman Reid Neal led the Crimson and Gray firepower, combining for six hits and five RBI. During the outing, Neal, Nick Capra, and Ryan Sinzenich, each collected one home run apiece.

On the mound, Andy Marzheuser walked away with his seventh seasonal win, as the sophomore struck-out five and allowed two runs in five innings pitched. Closing for the Panthers, Luke Lorah took home his third personal save, striking out two and allowing no hits for no runs in two innings pitched.

Game 2 of the series saw the Panthers breaking through the score first, when Neal put the Panthers on the scoreboard during his first at bat.

However, Eckerd quickly battled back and overlapped the Panthers 2-1 in the home offensive frame. After a scoreless second, the Tritons snatched two more runs in the third to increase their lead, 4-1.

Entering the fourth with a three-run discrepancy, Neal evened the score for the Panthers, delivering a three-run bomb behind center field. In the Eckerd offensive half, the St. Pete lineup grabbed two more runs to put the Panthers behind once more, 6-4.

As the fifth came around, the momentum changed for FIT when Capra and Sinzenich joining forces to punch home runs over the fence and put the Panthers on top, 8-6.

With great effort, Florida Tech tried to continue its productive streak, but fell short as the Tritons grasped five runs in the remainder of the game to top FIT, 11-8.

After suffering a narrow loss, the Panthers kept their spirits alive and took over Game 3 of the series. To open the second frame, Zac Orchard shot his first home run of the season to give FIT the lead, 1-0.

Rallying back in the third, Eckerd snatched two runs to put Florida Tech at distance, 2-1. Continuing to battle, the Melbourne team sparked up a fight in the fifth, which leveled the score at 2-2. With bases loaded, the Tritons pitcher allotted the Crimson and Gray with another run on a wild pitch, while Capra pushed home the last FIT run with a single down the right field line, putting Eckerd at length, 4-2.

In closing, Brett Porter and Lorah combined to tame the Tritons bats for the final regular season win.

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