Melbourne, Fla. - Florida Tech hosted Lynn University for the home series opener. After starting the three-game series with a loss yesterday, the Panthers were able to bounce back and take two at home to win the series opener.
GAME 1
Florida Tech posted four runs, three RBI's, four walks, and 11 hits of 29 at-bats.
Lynn took a quick 2-0 lead over Tech after walking back-to-back guys with bases loaded in the top of the second inning. The Panthers quickly responded in the bottom half getting one run back after a Blaise Maris single to right field scoring Diego Garcia.
The transfer Paul Castillo tied the game 2-2 after a single to left field scoring Jakob Newton.
The Panthers traded two outs for a run in the fifth inning to take a 3-2 lead over the Fighting Knights. Tech was able to get an insurance run by Maris double to left field to score Garcia and extend the Panthers lead to two runs.
Florida Tech received an outstanding outing by freshman Mitchell Harding. On his first start as a Panthers, Harding recorded five innings pitched, allowing four hits, two runs, three walks, and seven strikeouts on his first collegiate win.
In the sixth, freshman Daniel Vassallo came to relife Harding and he did not disappoint. Vassallo came in the sixth and struck out the first three batters he faced. The freshman pitched four innings allowing just one hit, no runs, and four strikeouts to record his first save of his career.
Panthers won game one (4-2) with impressive overall team performance and they carried that momentum for game two of the doubleheader.
GAME 2
Tech posted seven runs with nine hits, six RBI's and two walks on the victory.
The Crimson and Gray jumped to an early 1-0 lead over Lynn with an RBI groundout by Newton scoring Raul Quintero.
The Fighting Knights answered back with a home run over the left-field wall making it a 1-1 game in the third inning. That was Lynn's only run support in game two of the doubleheader.
In the fourth inning, the Panthers rally and scored six runs to make it a 7-1 game. The first two runs came from the bat of Garcia who tripled to right field scoring Brett Parish and Castillo.
Later in the fourth, Quintero posted a two-RBI double to right field and Newton single to left scoring Quintero to record his second RBI of the game.
Tech had a good performance by Quintero going 2-for-2 with runs, two RBI's, and a walk on the Panther win. "It is always a good time to get two over Lynn after a tough loss last night, said Quintero. The senior now extends his hitting streak to three games after today's performance.
Quintero, Newton, and Garcia posted two RBI's each combining for six out of seven Panther runs.
Head Coach Greg Berkemeier received an outstanding performance from his pitching staff in game two of the doubleheader. The winning pitcher, Justin Lorenz delivered four innings allowing just one hit, one run, two walks, and four strikeouts to get his first win of the year.
Blake Beyel followed Lorenze pitching two innings allowing one hit, no runs, and four strikeouts. Alex Carpenter finished the Fighting Knights by striking out the side in the seventh inning.
NEXT
Florida Tech will head to Winter Park, Fla. to face Rollins at the Alfond Stadium at Harper-Shepherd Field. The game is scheduled for Wednesday, March 10 at 5 p.m.
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