MELBOURNE, FLA. - Florida Tech baseball hosted Minnesota State Mankato on Tuesday afternoon at Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field. The Panthers defeated the Mavericks 4-3 and earned their first back-to-back win of the season.
In the first inning, Florida Tech jumped to an early 2-0 over Minnesota State. The Panthers were able to tackle a couple of runs with a sacrifice fly by Blaise Maris and an RBI single to left field by Jakob Newton.
In the fourth, Tech was able to take a 4-0 lead over the Mavericks. The Panthers did it with an RBI groundout by Alec Eldridge. The fourth run was due to a wild pitch by the Mavericks that allowed Tyler Brown to score.
In the fifth, Minnesota State recorded its first run of the game with an RBI infield single. However, the Mavericks added two more with a two-RBI triple to the left-center field making it a 4-3 ball game. Andrew Dunham came in for Justin Lorenz with a runner on base and was able to get out of the inning without any further damage.
On the mound, Justin Lorenz started the game for the Crimson and Gray and delivered a quality start. The Sophomore kept the Mavericks off the board through four innings of work allowing just three hits. Lorenz came out in the fifth after allowing a three-RBI triple by the Mavericks. Lorenz pitched 4.1 innings allowing seven hits, three runs, three walks, and three strikeouts.
Andrew Dunham came in the fifth for Lorenz with a runner on third and was able to eliminate any Maverick damage by recording his first strikeout to end the inning.
Andres Rodriguez came in the sixth inning to try to hold the Mavericks at three runs. Rodriguez worked quickly recording a strikeout and two fly outs to end the sixth. He was able to hold the Mavericks scoreless in the seventh as head coach Greg Berkemeier handed the ball to Jake Lane. Rodriguez pitched two innings allowing just one hit, no runs, a walk, and a strikeout.
Jake Lane worked quickly in the eighth collecting groundout and a double play to end the inning. Blake Beyel came in the ninth for a save situation. Beyel recorded the first out of the inning with a fly out to left field. Beyel later walked the next two batters, but ultimately recorded the save and earned his first save of the season.
Offensively, Tyler Brown continues to swings the bat well for the Panthers. The junior went 2-for-2 with a run scored and a hit by pitch. Brown, with this performance, has now recorded a hit in the last six games.
Brett Parrish recorded two hits in three at-bats and added a stolen base to his credit.
Blaise Maris, Jakob Newton, Alec Eldridge collected an RBI each to help the Panthers earn their first back-to-back win of the season.
NEXT
The Crimson and Gray host Eckerd Collage to start their Sunshine State Conference run Friday, March 13 at Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. EST.
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