MELBOURNE, FLA. – Panther baseball was back home this evening to kick off their Sunshine State Conference series against Saint Leo.
SSC PLAY – SERIES OPENER
Final: Florida Tech Panthers 2, Saint Leo Lions 4
Records: Florida Tech (14-14, 5-8 SSC)
| Saint Leo (15-13, 4-9 SSC)
Location: Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field
| Melbourne, Florida
GAME NOTES:
- This evening's contest began with a bang for the Panthers as Marcello Cortale launched the first pitch he saw over the wall in left field for his eighth home run of the year.
- Reilly Kuhar started on the mound for Tech and was flawless through his first four innings of work. Kuhar held the Lions to just two hits and preserved the 1-0 lead.
- Despite hits from Marshall Burke, Cole Patrick, Brian Perez and Anthony Fimiano, the Panthers were unable to plate another run.
- Saint Leo threatened to tie the game in the top of the fifth, but Kuhar worked out of a bases-loaded jam.
- After another scoreless inning from the Tech bats, the Lions were able to tie the game in the top of the sixth with a two-out solo home run.
- Both sides earned base runners in the seventh inning, but neither could capitalize, sending the game to the final 12 outs tied 1-1.
- Unfortunately for Tech, Saint Leo rallied in the eighth inning to take the lead. The Lions earned five straight base runners and pushed across two runs to go up 3-1.
- After the Panthers were unable to respond in the bottom half, Saint Leo added an insurance run in the top of the ninth and took a three-run lead.
- Down to their last outs, the Panthers showed fight and attempted a comeback. Brian Perez led off the bottom of the ninth with a single and after a walk from Anthony Fimiano , the tying run was at the plate.
- Justis Meadows provided another spark with a two-out single to cut the deficit to two runs, but that was all the Panthers could get as Saint Leo held on to win the game.
FINAL: Florida Tech Panthers 2, Saint Leo 4
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
UP NEXT: The Panthers and Lions will turn around and play again in less than 24 hours. Both sides will face off tomorrow in a doubleheader starting at 1:00 PM.
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