MELBOURNE, Fla. - Florida Tech welcomed No. 12 Wingate to Melbourne for the decisive game in their three-game series. The Panthers trailed early but battled their way back late to send the Bulldogs back to North Carolina with a series loss.  

INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final:  Florida Tech 4, No. 12 Wingate 3 
Records:  Florida Tech (2-2, 0-0 SSC) | (Wingate 1-2,0-0 SAC) 
Location: Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field | Melbourne, Fla. 

STATS OF GAME: 

• Seaver King hit Wingate's first home run of the season in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. 
• Back-to-back RBI singles to right field from Andrew Motsinger and Cam Harris gave the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning.  
• Wingate threatened to score more in the fourth inning with the bases loaded, but RHP Tyler Vermillion came in out of the bullpen and got a 643 double play to end the frame. 
• Sam Schner, who reached on an error, scored on a wild pitch to get Tech's first run in the fourth inning.  
• Alec Eldridge had an RBI groundout in the fifth inning that scored Gabe Garrett to cut the Wingate lead to one run.  
• In the seventh inning, Eldridge tied the game at three with an RBI single up the middle that scored Garrett once again.  
• The Panthers took the lead later in the seventh on an RBI single by Brett Kelly to center field that scored Jason Blackstone.  
• RHP Ethan Stephens picked up the save by pitching shutout baseball in the eighth and ninth innings. He struck out two and gave up just one base runner via a base on balls. 
• Starting RHP Christian Galindo in his Florida Tech debut worked 3.1 innings, giving up three earned runs on five hits. He walked four and struck out one.  
• Vermillion picked up the win for Tech with 3.2 innings pitched, allowing just one hit with three strikeouts. 
• RHP Josh Dotson took the loss for Wingate giving up two runs in 1.2 innings pitched. 
• Tech had six hits on the afternoon with two coming from both Blackstone and Austin Sewell. 
• Eldridge had a team-high 2 RBIs. 

• The Panthers move to 4-5 all-time against Wingate. 
• Vermillion retired eight batters in a row in relief. 
• This is the second season in a row that Florida Tech earned a series win over a ranked opponent.  

UP NEXT: Florida Tech returns to action on Friday, Feb.10 for a regional matchup with Valdosta State in Daytona Beach. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. 
 

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