WINTER PARK, Fla. – A late-inning home run from Carlos Guzman gave the Panthers a 5-3 win in game one of the road conference doubleheader this afternoon, but Tech would fall to the Tars, 10-4, in game two.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Game 1 Final: Florida Tech 5, Rollins 3
Game 2 Final: Florida Tech 4, Rollins 10
Records: Florida Tech (12-15, 5-6 SSC), Rollins (15-9, 7-4 SSC)
Location: Alfond Stadium | Winter Park, Fla.
 
STATS OF GAME 1:

• Both starting pitchers tossed a perfect first inning to begin the doubleheader.
• Tech threatened in the top of the second with a runner in scoring position and no outs after Carlos Guzman worked a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. However, the Tars were able to retire three straight Panthers to keep the game scoreless.
• In the bottom of the fourth inning, Rollins got on the board with a two-run home run. After a single in the next at-bat, Panther starting pitcher Josh Beck retired the next three Tars to get out of the inning.
• Tech would get one back in the top of the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly from Marshall Burke that brought Gabe Garrett across the plate to make it a 2-1 game.
• Rollins took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single.
• In the top of the sixth, Noah Burke led off with a hit-by-pitch and Brett Kelly moved him over to third with a double into the left-center gap. An RBI groundout from Camden Colman and a single from Garrett plated N. Burke and Kelly to knot the game at 3-3.
• Both pitching staffs locked in and did not allow a run until the top of the fifth. Jason Blackstone led the inning off with a single and advanced to second on a ground out from M. Burke.
• After a flyout, Guzman stepped up to the plate and launched a two-run home run over the left field fence to take a 5-3 lead for the Panthers.
• Pitching in relief, Tyler Vermillion slammed the door in the bottom of the ninth for Tech and secured the win in the opening game of the weekend series.

 
STATS OF GAME 2:

• The Tars got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back RBI base hits to take a 2-0 lead.
• Guzman led off the top of the second with a double for Tech and advanced to third on a fly ball. He would score a few pitches later from a wild pitch to cut the lead down to 2-1.
• Rollins would add two more runs in the bottom half of the same frame on a two-RBI single. The Panthers would convert a double play to get out of the inning.
• An RBI groundout from Guzman in the top of the third cut the lead down to 4-2.
• After a scoreless fourth inning, Rollins tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning with two sacrifice flies and a wild pitch.
• In the top of the sixth, Tech loaded the bases with one out. Colman sent a fly ball to right field that was deep enough to allow Guzman to come home and make it a 7-3 game.
• In the next at-bat, Cole Patrick sent a single through the left side to plate N. Burke and cut the deficit down to 7-4.
• The Tars responded quickly in the bottom of the sixth with a three-run home run to push the lead out to 10-4.
• The Panthers would go down in order in the next three innings and the game ended with a final score of 10-4.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Florida Tech moves to 74-86-1 all-time against Rollins, including a 29-33 record on the road in Winter Park.
• Carlos Guzman is now on a seven-game hitting streak and is now tied for second on the team with three home runs.
• Brett Kelly has reached base safely in all 15 games he has played this season.

 
UP NEXT: Florida Tech will conclude the weekend series against the Tars tomorrow Sunday, March 24. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Winter Park, Fla.
 
For the latest news, updates, and information on Florida Tech Baseball, 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.