SAINT LEO, Fla. – Despite a strong offensive showing, the Panthers couldn't overcome a nine-run fifth inning by Saint Leo, falling 18-8 in the series opener. Tech held an early lead and fought to stay within striking distance, but the Lions' explosive offense proved too much to handle.
STATS OF THE GAME:
Final: Florida Tech 8, Saint Leo, 18
Records: Florida Tech (16-13, 6-7 SSC) | Saint Leo (10-16, 2-8 SSC)
Location: Saint Leo, Fla | Thomas B. Southard Stadium
STATS OF THE GAME:
- After a scoreless first inning from both sides, Carlos Guzman put the Panthers up 1-0 after a single brought home Marshall Burke.
- The Lions quickly got on the board to follow at the bottom of the second inning taking their first lead with two runs via a bunt that caused an error for Tech allowing one run to score and a ground out that brought in a run, 2-1.
- Answering right back, the Panthers tied the game in the top of the third inning as Cole Patrick singled bringing home Jason Blackstone, 2-2.
- Tech took the lead back in the top of the fourth inning as Conner Wiggins flied out to left center bringing home Guzman, 3-2.
- Up one run, the Panthers weren't done offensively yet as they collected two more runs in the top of the fifth inning.
- Guzman singled but this time bringing home Pedro Figueroa and Wiggins was walked with the bases loaded, bringing home Patrick, 5-2.
- Saint Leo responded in a huge way scoring nine runs in the bottom of the fifth to blow this game wide open.
- The offense came from three singles scoring four runs, a walk with the bases load scoring one run, and a grand slam scoring the final four runs, 11-5.
- To answer the massive inning, the Panthers scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning.
- M. Burke doubled down the right-field line, bringing home Figueroa for his second run of the day, Guzman flied out to bring home Patrick, and Garrett doubled down the right-field line to bring home M. Burke reducing the deficit to just two, 11-8.
- The Lions added on four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, followed by one in the bottom of the seventh, and then twice more in the bottom of the eighth extending their lead to 10 runs.
- This lead would prove insurmountable as the Lions would secure the win 18-8 over the Panthers.
- Jacob Pino got the weekend series start for the Panthers lasting four and one-third innings giving up 10 hits, and eight runs while walking three and striking out one.
- Brayden DiCerb, Tyler Dietz, Sean Means, and Nicholas Jukovich took the mound in relief for Tech.
- DiCerb made an appearance in the fifth inning giving up zero hits, and two runs while walking one and striking out zero. Dietz lasted two-thirds of an inning giving up one hit, and three runs while walking three and striking out one.
- Means lasted one-third of an inning giving up one hit, and two runs while walking two and striking out one. Jukovich finished the game's final two and two-thirds innings for the Panthers giving up four hits, and three runs while walking two and striking out two.
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- All-time vs. Saint Leo: 65-96-1
- Since the start of 2015, the Lions hold a 16-13 advantage in the series, with the Panthers having now won eight of 14 since the start of 2021.
- Tech is now 24-36 at Saint Leo since 1991.
UP NEXT: The Panthers will stay in Saint Leo, Florida competing in games two and three of the weekend series tomorrow with the opening pitch set for 1 PM.
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