Melbourne, Fla. – It didn't always look pretty and on paper, it might not have made sense, but Florida Tech used a variety of ways to earn a doubleheader and series sweep, 10-3 and 7-0, over Rollins on Friday at Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field.
Game 1
The Panthers opened the scoring in the doubleheader in the bottom of the second, which began with a walk to Paul Castillo. He promptly stole second with Brett Parrish at the plate, who also walked. Both runners then advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Alec Eldridge and Castillo would come around to score on an RBI groundout by Blaise Maris.
Tech doubled their lead the following inning, starting with a one-out walk to Raul Quintero, who then took second on a wild pitch and stole third with Jakob Newton at the plate. Newton then singled to the right side just beyond the reach of Tars' first baseman Jack Gonzalez to plate Quintero.
Rollins were able to break through in the top of the fourth as Gonzalez reached on a two-out single off Panthers' starting pitcher Mitch Harding. Gonzalez would advance to third on a pair of wild pitches during Parker Smith's at-bat, which eventually concluded with a walk. Sam Lafontaine's single through the right side brought home Gonzalez. A hit batsman loaded the bases but Harding escaped further damage by inducing an inning-ending flyout from Adams Torres.
Florida Tech would get that run back in the bottom half of the inning, beginning with consecutive one-out walks to Parrish and Eldridge. Tars' starting pitcher Steven Swift gave way to Kevin Kramer, who gave up an RBI single through the left side to Maris that drove in Parrish and restored the Panther lead to two runs. The inning would yield no further results as Hayden Kimball grounded out to first and Sam Schner flew out to left.
Game One truly became interesting in the fifth inning as Cameron Meehan drew a leadoff walk. That would bring Harding's day to a close as Blake Beyel entered from the bullpen to take over. Ryan Coleman greeted him with a hard-hit ball that glanced off Eldridge. Luke Reidy kept the line moving with a single to left that scored Meehan. Beyel walked Cody Oerther to load the bases with no but recovered to induce a foul out by Gonzalez and a strikeout of Smith. Before he could escape the jam, however, he hit Lafontaine with a pitch that brought home Coleman. The Tars were unable to take the lead as Beyel struck out pinch-hitter Jakob Rolly to end the inning.
The Panthers' response was immediate and decisive as they went to work in the bottom half of the fifth, which started the hard way with Raul Quintero being hit by a pitch. Quintero then took second on a wild pitch with Newton at the plate, an at-bat that ended in a walk. An error by Tars shortstop allowed Rodnie Bernard and load the bases in the process.
Quintero came into score on a double play ground ball by Castillo. Parrish then laced a triple to left center to bring home Newton and increase the lead to 5-3.
Tech put the game away for good in a truly bizarre bottom of the seventh that began with a one-out walk to Newton. Bernard pushed the rally along with a single through the right side. A walk to Castillo would load the bases for Parrish and chase Tars' reliever Ross Korosec. Parrish faced Jack Tomich and brought home a run the hard way by getting hit by a pitch. Eldridge then lined a ball that went under the glove of Colson at short and into left center. As Bernard and Castillo came around to score, Parrish sprinted for third, which rushed an errant throw by Meehan, allowing Parrish to score and Eldridge to reach third. Eldridge capped the scoring shortly thereafter, scampering home on a wild pitch to Blaise Maris.
Incredibly, the Panthers managed 10 runs on just four hits with no one having a multi-hit game. Three different Panthers had multiple walks, led by Newton, who had three.
Beyel ended up being the biggest individual difference maker as he surrendered just one run and scattered five hits across the final five innings, striking out five and walking two.
Quintero's stolen base was the 47th of his career, which ties him with Nick Brennan for 10th on the program's all-time list.
Game 2
Florida Tech would strike first in the bottom of the second inning once again, this time it was Parrish igniting the rally with a base hit to center against Rollins starter Tate Stone-Frisina. Dylan Owens then hit a grounder that was booted by Tars' shortstop Drew Howard, allowing both runners to reach safely. After an Eldridge sac bunt moved the runners, Kimball lifted a sac fly to left that brought home Parrish.
Much like Game One, the Panthers would put the game out of reach late. Castillo greeted Tars reliever Austin Long with a single up the middle, just the Panthers' second of the game to that point. Parrish reached when the Tars attempted unsuccessfully cut down the lead runner at second.
Owens then advanced both runners on a sacrifice and Rollins then chose to intentionally walk Eldridge. Kimball came through with a two-run single to left to give Florida Tech some breathing room. After Schner singled to re-load the bases, Quintero drove in two on a double to left center. Newton then lifted a sacrifice fly to left and Bernard singled to right to complete the scoring.
While the insurance was much appreciated, one run would have done the job thanks to the efforts of Panthers' starter Justin Lorenz. The junior right-hander tossed six shutout innings, scattering five hits and striking out four while walking just one to record his third win of the campaign.
The Panthers recorded six hits in Game Two but once again, no player had more than one. Kimball drove in three runs and stole a base.
Up Next
The Panthers (12-10, 11-9 SSC) return to action next Friday as they begin their final Sunshine State Conference series of the 2021 season at home against Palm Beach Atlantic. First pitch is scheduled for 6 P.M.
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Florida Tech baseball team, visit FloridaTechSports.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Panthers news by following Florida Tech Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
