MELBOURNE, Fla. – A slow start for Florida Tech saw the team playing from behind early. However, after allowing in 10 runs in the first two and a half innings, the team managed to outscore the Saints of Flagler College, 5-1, in the subsequent six and a half innings.
Leading the Crimson and Gray at the plate was senior
Zac Orchard, 2-5, one run and three RBIs, plus junior
James Gronberg, 2-4, one RBI and one walk. Orchard would also belt the only home run of the night for the team.
The Panthers would start the game on the wrong end of the scoreline as they ran into the hot bats of Flagler who despite excellent defensive positioning found all the small gaps in the team's defense and managed to jump out to a 7-0 lead by the end of the top half of the first and would extend that lead out to 10-0 during the top of the third. Things then began to turn around as the team began to work the pitch count to their advantage earning two back-to-back walks by
Raul Quintero and
Daniel Szpik. Next up was Orchard who blasted a shot over the left field wall to score all three men.
The game would become relatively quiet over the next two endings but that all changed in the sixth when Flagler earned its 11 and final run of the night. FIT would respond though scoring two of their own in the bottom half of the inning off a Gronberg double to left field that brought in
Pierson Reynolds. The next at-bat would also drive home a run as Quintero ground out to the Saint's shortstop but it was enough to allow
Jared Pearson to safely cross home plate extending the teams rally, five runs to one, since the initial 10-0 Flagler advantage.
After the latest flurry of activity, the final three innings of the game would see little action as neither team managed to have a runner cross home plate. This would cement the score at 11-5 in favor of the visitors.
Florida Tech nevertheless will look to shake off this off night as they will head over to Tampa Friday, Feb. 23, to take on Sunshine State Conference foe the Tampa Spartans. The first pitch for this game is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. on the UT Baseball Field.
For live coverage of the event, fans can access the livestream, audio or live stats on FloridaTechSports.com.
