MELBOURNE, Fla. – In a back-and-forth battle, the Panthers came up just short in their series opener against Embry-Riddle, falling 6-5 after a late-inning surge by the Eagles. Despite a strong outing from starting pitcher
Jacob Pino and a three-hit night from
Gabe Garrett, Tech couldn't hold off a resilient Eagles squad in the final frames.
STATS OF THE GAME:
Final: Florida Tech 5, Embry-Riddle 6
Records: Florida Tech (19-17, 9-10 SSC) | Embry-Riddle (19-12, 5-8 SSC)
Location: Melbourne, Fla. | Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field
STATS OF THE GAME:
- Noah Burke started the scoring on the night with a double in the top of the bottom of the first inning with runners Cole Patrick on second and Conner Wiggins on third, bringing Wiggins home for the score, putting Tech up 1-0.
- In the same inning, the Panthers added another run as Patrick advanced home on a passed ball pushing the lead up 2-0.
- The Eagles responded in the top of the second inning with a two-run homer from Timo Aracena tying the game 2-2.
- Embry-Riddle took their first lead in the top of the fourth inning with a single from Collin Mastromau that brought in one run, 3-2.
- The Panthers tied the ball game in the bottom of the sixth inning after Patrick reached home on a wild pitch from the Eagles, 3-3.
- A two-run inning in the top of the seventh gave the lead back to the Panthers as Jaden Hill induced a fielder's choice with two runners on, Gabe Garrett reached home and in that same inning, Wiggins singled to bring home Hill, 5-3.
- In the top of the eighth inning, the Eagles took the lead back with three runs.
- Max Kops started things off with a double that brought in two runs and Noah Clymer flied out bringing home one run, Eagles now up 6-5.
- In the bottom of the ninth inning, Garrett would be the only Panther to get on base advancing to second, but Tech would not manage another score and take the 6-5 loss.
- Jacob Pino got the start for the Panthers lasting seven innings giving up five hits, and three runs while walking none and striking out five.
- Noah Steckley took the mound in relief and received the loss, lasting the game's final two innings giving up one hit, and one run while walking three and striking out one.
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- All-time vs. Embry-Riddle: 25-24
- Tech is now 13-10 all-time at home vs. Embry-Riddle.
UP NEXT: The Panthers will host the Eagles in a doubleheader tomorrow, with the opening pitch starting at 1 PM.
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