MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Florida Tech baseball team won a wild midweek non-conference matchup over the Florida Southern Mocs, 6-5, on Tuesday night at Andy-Seminick-Les Hall Field.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Florida Tech 6, Florida Southern 5
Records: Florida Tech (15-18, 7-8 SSC), Florida Southern (9-20, 3-9 SSC)
Location: Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field | Melbourne, Fla.
 
STATS OF THE GAME:

• After a scoreless first inning, FSC struck first in the top of the second with an RBI groundout followed by an RBI triple to go up 2-0.
• The Mocs threatened again in the top of the third with runners on second and third with one out, but Panther starting pitcher Mitch Harding induced a pop-up to get out of the jam.
• In the bottom of the third inning, Gabe Garrett and Jason Blackstone roped back-to-back singles with one out but the next two Panthers would be retired to keep Tech off the scoreboard.
• FSC tacked on another run in the top of the fifth to extend its lead to 3-0.
• The Panthers' offense exploded in the bottom half of the frame. Camden Colman started the inning with an infield single and advanced to second after a throwing error by the Mocs' pitcher.
• A walk issued to Austin Sewell allowed Garrett to move both runners up with a sacrifice bunt, but FSC struck out the next Panther to get to two outs. A wild pitch to the next hitter allowed Sewell to score and put Tech on the board.
• Still in the bottom of the fifth, two more walks loaded the bases for Carlos Guzman who deposited a double down the left-field line to score all three runners and give the Panthers a 4-3 lead.
• FSC would knot the game back up at 4-4 with a two-out bases-loaded walk in the top of the sixth inning.
• In the bottom of the seventh, Garrett led the inning off with a double into left field and Blackstone sent a single up the middle to plate Garrett and retake the lead, 5-4. A few batters later, a bloop single into right field from Guzman plated Blackstone to push the lead out to 6-4.
• A walk to Matousek and another bloop single, this time from Tate Hansen loaded the bases for Colman. He would send a liner into left field, but the left field made a great diving catch to retire the side and end the Panthers' rally.
• The Mocs threatened in the top of the eighth with a runner on second and two outs, but Panther relief pitcher, Noah Steckley, struck out the final batter of the inning to preserve the lead.
• In the bottom of the eighth, Garrett smoked his second double of the game into the right-center field gap with one out, but he would be stranded there after the next two Panthers were retired.
• FSC began the top of the ninth with a walk and three straight singles to cut the lead down to 6-5 and load the bases with Mocs and nobody out.
• Coming in relief, Brady Guthrie would come in and strike out the next three hitters to end the game and earn his first save of the season.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Florida Tech moves to 35-113 all-time against FSC, including a 22-53 record in Melbourne.
• Tonight's win snaps an eight-game losing streak to the Mocs and was the first win at home against FSC in five years.
• Brady Guthrie earned his first save as a member of the Crimson and Gray.
• Gabe Garrett finished with multiple extra-base hits for the first time this season.
• Jason Blackstone has reached base safely in 26 straight games played.
• Carlos Guzman has reached base safely in 22 out of 23 games started this season.
• Camden Colman recorded a hit in 11 out of his last 12 games.

 
UP NEXT: The Panthers will host Eckerd this weekend for a three-game weekend conference series on Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday in Melbourne.
 
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