WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Panthers put on an offensive showcase Saturday, completing the series sweep after dominant doubleheader performances with a 5-2 win in game one before erupting for a commanding 21-6 victory in game two. Strong pitching set the tone early, while an explosive offensive outburst in the nightcap sealed the sweep emphatically.
GAME ONE:
STATS OF THE GAME:
Final: Florida Tech 5, PBA 2
Records: Florida Tech (12-10, 4-4 SSC) | PBA (10-6, 3-2 SSC)
Location: West Palm Beach, Fla | J.M. "Jake" Rubin Park
STATS OF THE GAME:
- Right out of the gate in the top of the first inning, Cole Patrick picked up from his stellar game on Friday as he doubled bringing home Jaden Hill for the first score of the game, 1-0.
- In the top of the second inning, Conner Wiggins added to Tech's lead with a ground out that resulted in a Gabe Garrett score, 2-0.
- Again, in the top of the fourth inning, Wiggins brought in Garret for a run, this time with a flyout, putting Tech up 3-0.
- After a scoreless fifth inning from both teams, it was PBA that registered their first score in the bottom of the sixth via an error by Tech, the lead at just two now 3-1.
- The Sailfish struck again in the bottom of the seven with a single that brought in one run.
- Tech responded with two final blows in the top of the ninth when Roman Samson singled bringing home Garrett and Brett Kelly reached first on a fielder's choice that allowed Pedro Figueroa to score the final run.
- Aidan Lenzen took the start and the win for the Panthers as he lasted seven innings, giving up five hits, and two runs, while walking one and striking out three.
- Noah Steckley secured the save in relief as he lasted the final two innings, giving up zero hits, and zero runs while walking none, and striking out two.
Notable Panthers:
- Gabe Garrett led the game in hits and runs in the game with three each while no other player recorded more than one, Garrett also recorded the lone stolen base in the game.
- Despite not registering a hit, Conner Wiggins led the game in RBIs with two.
- Pedro Figueroa was walked twice leading the game as there were only four walks total, three on Tech and one on PBA.
GAME TWO:
STATS OF THE GAME:
Final: Florida Tech 21
, PBA 6
Records: Florida Tech (13-10, 5-4 SSC) | PBA (10-7, 3-3 SSC)
Location: West Palm Beach, Fla | J.M. "Jake" Rubin Park
STATS OF THE GAME:
- The Panthers wasted no time in this one scoring six runs in the top of the first.
- The offense came from a Noah Burke single bringing home Jaden Hill, a single from Marshall Burke bringing home Brett Kelly, a Pedro Figueroa double that brought home M. Burke, Cole Patrick, and N. Burke, and a Gabe Garrett single that brought home Figueroa to close the top of the first, Tech up 6-0.
- The Sailfish responded in the bottom of the first with two runs via a wild pitch and a solo home run, 6-2.
- Tech kept their foot on the gas going into the second when Figueroa doubled once again bringing home Patrick and Garrett singled bringing home Figueroa and M. Burke extending the lead to seven, 9-2.
- PBA put up a solo run in the bottom of the second from a single cutting the lead to six.
- After a scoreless third inning from both sides, Hill singled earning an RBI when Garrett crossed home plate and Kelly singled earning an RBI as well that brought in Wiggins, pushing Techs' lead up to a game-high eight, 11-3.
- The Sailfish put one run on the board in the fifth inning after a passed ball from the Panthers allowed a score.
- In response, Tech scored 10 runs across the sixth and seventh innings to effectively put the game away.
- With the bases loaded three consecutive batters were walked, all bringing in a run. A Figueroa single brought in two runs. Hill singled bringing in one run. Joseph Phan doubled bringing home three runs and to cap it all off Austin Sewell singled to bring home one run.
- PBA put two more runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh, but the lead created by the Panthers was too much and Tech would confidently earn the win and the series sweep.
- Dylan Dieguez earned the win for the Panthers lasting two innings giving up four hits, and three runs, while walking one and striking out none.
- Brayden DiCerb, Ridge Skarbek, and Tyler Dietz all made an appearance in relief.
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Everyone in the lineup recorded a hit for the second time this season.
- Most runs in a game since scoring 24 against Tuskegee on February 4, 2022.
- All-time vs. Palm Beach Atlantic: 61-33
- Tech is now 23-15 at PBA since 1993 and earned their first series win at Rubin Park since 2021.
- The first SSC sweep since February 18-19, 2022, vs. Barry.
- The last three-game road SSC sweep was April 7-8, 2017, at Barry.
- Techs' first three-game sweep of PBA since February 21-23, 2014.
- First SSC series win for us since March 29-30, 2024, at Embry-Riddle
UP NEXT: The Panthers return home for a mid-week game against Barry University on Tuesday, March 11 with the opening pitch set for 5 pm.
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