MELBOURNE, Fla. – Five different players earned hits in the close matchup against Barton College, but it was Roman Samson who played hero after subbing in late in the contest and hitting a walk-off home run in his first at bat of the night to seal the win for the Panthers.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final game three: Florida Tech 3, Barton College 2
Records: Florida Tech (3-1, 0-0 SSC), Barton College (1-4, 0-0 SIAC)
Location: Melbourne, Fla | Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field
 
STATS OF THE GAME ONE:

• Jacob Pino started the game for the Panthers, lasting four innings, giving up five hits and two runs while walking one and striking out one.
• The Bulldogs took an early lead, scoring runs in the first and third innings, while Florida Tech responded with a run in the second inning.
• Up to this point, the lone run for Tech came from Brett Kelly scoring on a passed ball.
• The Panthers tied the game at 2-2 in the seventh inning after Anthony Fimiano hit a sacrifice fly, earning an RBI. The RBI was registered as Noah Burke scored the tying run.
• Ethan Stephens got the nod to replace Pino and lasted three innings, giving up three hits, zero runs, zero batters walked, and three strikeouts.
• Ridge Skarbek took the mound as the closer and improved his record to 2-0 in the season, contributing significantly to the team's defensive efforts. Skarbek finished with two innings pitched, with zero hits, zero runs, zero walks, and two strikeouts.
• In the bottom of the ninth inning, Roman Samson, who subbed in for Kelly, delivered a solo home run, securing the win for Tech.
• This victory improved Tech's season record to 3-1.

NOTABLE PANTHERS:

• Roman Samson earned his third career walk-off home run and his first home run of the season.
• Jaden Hill led Tech with two hits on the night in four at-bats.
• Ethan Stephens finished with a team-high three strikeouts.
• Five different Panthers tallied hits on the night: Hill, Pedro Figueroa, Kelly, Samson, and Jason Blackstone.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• The Panthers have now won three games in a row.
• All-time vs. Barton College 1-0
• This marked the first time the two colleges had ever faced one another.

 
UP NEXT: The Panthers will stay in Melbourne, Fla and host Barton College tomorrow, Saturday, February 8, for games two and three starting at 2 pm.
 
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