MELBOURNE, Fla. - In an emotional day for the Florida Tech Baseball team, the Panthers said farewell to their seniors who were playing in their final home games at Andy Seminick - Les Hall Field. FIT earned the series win after taking the first game of the doubleheader, 20-9, but dropped game two to Palm Beach Atlantic, 9-3.

James Gronberg led the way for FIT as he went  3-6 with three runs and six RBIs in only one game. Ryan Sinzenich also had himself a day as he went 3-8 and tallied five runs and one RBI.

Rhett Willis opened the afternoon as he got the start in game one of the doubleheader. Willis pitched two innings for the team during which he allowed six runs on five hits.

Ryan Allain was the first pitcher to join the fray as he went for two innings and surrendered two runs on two hits.

Jack Buck and Colin Cristello (1-3) closed out the final five innings of play as they shut down the Sailfish as they combined to allow just one run on six hits.

Game one started out rough for the Crimson and Gray as they gave up two runs in the top of the first but halved the lead in the bottom half off of a wild pitch that scored Sinzenich.

A grand slam in the top of the second inning pushed the Panthers' deficit to 6-1 as they headed for their second round at the plate.

A single in the top of the fourth inning by PBA scored two and put Florida Tech down by seven runs. However, Florida Tech narrowed the lead to 8-6 in the bottom half of the inning as a Gronberg single scored two runs to kick off the rally. A Jacob Buser single later in the inning scored Rodnie Bernard. In the next at-bat, Daniel Szpik hit another gapper that allowed Gronberg to cross home plate with ease.

Zac Orchard ushered the final run of the fourth across the plate as he hit a sacrifice fly to center that gave Sinzenich enough time to trot across the bag. A deep sacrifice fly to left center by Szpik in the bottom of the sixth scored Sinzenich and brought the margin to just one run, 8-7.

In their next time at the plate, Florida Tech tied the score at 8-8  as a Quintero bunt sent Kevin Capella flying over the bag. 

Unfortunately, the Sailfish grabbed the lead back, 9-8, in the top of the eighth.

FIT took their first lead of the night in the bottom of the eighth as the Panthers drove home 12 runs, including a grand slam by Gronberg. Capella and Pierson Reynolds batted in runners while wild pitches and walks helped others reach home.

This big inning saw FIT coast to a 20-9 victory to clinch the series as the team looked ahead to the senior day celebrations and a potential sweep of its opponents from West Palm Beach.

Game two saw senior Tim Whalen earn his first start since his freshman campaign. Whalen lasted one inning and gave up three runs on three hits.

Florida Tech then turned to its bullpen to finish off the game as four more pitchers took the mound to complete the series. Included in the mix of pitchers was Jake Lane, Jordan Murray, Matt Coles and Justin Barney.

The second game of the doubleheader saw another slow start for the Crimson and Gray as they allowed three runs in the opening frame. PBA added on three more runs in the second to grab a 6-0 advantage.

FIT got on the board for the first time in the bottom of the second when Newton hit a grounder to the shortstop that let Quintero find the bag safely.

Palm Beach Atlantic added to its lead in the top of the fifth when the Sailfish scored two, making the score 8-1.

The Sailfish tacked on another run in the sixth to extend their lead to eight runs.

Quintero added another run for the Panthers in the bottom of the ninth as he attempted to kick off a late game rally.Newton was able to bring home Capella later in the game but that would be the final run of the night as Florida Tech fell, 9-3.

The Panthers will be back in action next Sunday, May 6, as they head over to Miami Shores to take on rival Barry. Game one of the series is set to begin at 3 p.m. on Feinbloom Field. You can follow the action at FloridaTechSports.com/live