MELBOURNE, Fla. – In a back-and-forth battle on the road, the Panthers secured an 8-4 victory over Embry-Riddle with a late offensive surge. After falling behind in the seventh inning, the Panthers responded with three runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth to reclaim control.
Marshall Burke led the way with four hits, while
Pedro Figueroa,
Cole Patrick, and
Gabe Garrett each contributed key RBIs as the Panthers improved their record to 16-12 on the season.
STATS OF THE GAME:
Final: Florida Tech 8, ERAU 4
Records: Florida Tech (16-12, 6-6 SSC) | ERAU (16-7, 3-3 SSC)
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla | Sliwa Stadium
STATS OF THE GAME:
- It was a defensive standstill in this non-conference early.
- The lone score through four innings came in favor of the Panthers.
- Pedro Figueroa broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning as he advanced home with the help of a wild pitch, 1-0.
- The Eagles tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with a double that brought one run home, 1-1.
- Tech took back the lead in the top of the sixth inning as Cole Patrick singled to the left side bringing home Jaden Hill, 2-1.
- To follow in the top of the seventh inning, Conner Wiggins grounded out advancing Gabe Garrett to third, and via a throwing error, Garrett advanced home for the score, building the lead up to two runs, 3-1.
- The best offensive inning from both teams came in favor of the Eagles in the bottom of the seventh inning as they scored three runs to take their first lead of the day.
- A sacrifice bunt following a throwing error brought in one run, a fielder's choice brought in one run, and a sacrifice fly brought home a run to take the lead 4-3.
- The Panthers answered right back in the top of the eighth inning with three runs of their own to take back the lead.
- Garrett singled through the right side bringing home Marshall Burke and Akhil Nimmala reached first on an error which also allowed Fimiano and Garrett to score, 6-4.
- Tech put two more runs on the board in the top of the ninth inning via a Figueroa single that brought home Brett Kelly and an M. Burke single that brought home Figueroa increasing their lead to four, 8-4, helping secure the road win.
- Ryan Spitzer got the start for Tech on the mound lasting three innings, giving up two hits, and zero runs while walking one and striking out one.
- In relief, Dylan Dieguez, Brayden DiCerb, Trenten Anderson, Ridge Skarbek, Noah Steckley, and Ethan Stephens all saw time on the mound for the Panthers.
- Dieguez lasted one and one-third innings, giving up two hits, and two runs, while walking one and striking out two. DiCerb lasted two-thirds of an inning giving up zero hits, and zero runs, while walking zero and striking out one.
- Anderson lasted one inning giving up zero hits, and zero runs, while walking zero and striking out zero. Skarbek lasted zero-thirds of an inning giving up no hits, three runs while walking one, and striking out zero.
- Steckley earned the win after Tech took the lead under him on the mound and lasted one inning giving up zero hits, and zero runs while walking zero and striking out one. Stephens earned the save and finished the game lasting two innings giving up zero hits, and zero runs, while walking zero and striking out three.
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- All-time vs. Embry-Riddle: 25-23.
- First non-conference meeting in Daytona Beach between teams since March 31, 2010.
- Since the Eagles joined the SSC ahead of the 2016 season, the Eagles hold a now 12-11 advantage in the series.
- Panthers are now 12-14 all-time at Embry-Riddle.
UP NEXT: The Panthers will stay on the road and travel to Saint Leo, Florida facing off against Saint Leo University in a weekend series starting Friday, March 21 with the opening pitch set for 3 PM.
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