It was a rough weekend for the Florida Tech baseball team who finished up an 0-3 weekend at the Flagler Kickoff Classic with a 9-4 loss to the host Saints on Sunday. The loss was the fifth in a row for the Panthers after winning their opening game of the season.

Home runs by Jacob Buser and Ryan Sinzenich accounted for the Panthers offense in this one. They each finished the day 3-for-4, accounting for six of Florida Tech’s eight hits.

Panthers starter Andy Marzheuser lasted just three innings, giving up six runs (five earned) on six hits, walking one and striking out two. Colin Cristello (1.2 innings), Jordan Murray (1.0 inning), Justin Barney (1.1 innings) and Jake Lane (1.0 inning), had to go the rest of the way.

Marzheuser ran into trouble immediately hitting Ethan Crout with a pitch. After Crout stole second, Dillon Reed made the rest of his trip around the bases less taxing, with a two-run blast to right-center.

After getting the first two outs in the second inning, Crout got to Marzheuser again with a single. Reed then reached on an error, putting runners at first and second. This time it was Sean Lawlor who would strike the big blow, taking Marzheuser’s 3-1 pitch out and giving the Saints a commanding 5-0 lead. They would add another run in the third on a Frankie Martello sac bunt.

Buser got the Panthers on the board in the top of the fourth, when he took Flagler starter Ryan Ashworth deep to start the inning. It was the third homer of the season for Buser. Sinzenich followed with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. After Jakob Newton moved him to third on a groundout, Rodnie Bernard got the ball in the air deep enough to score the run and cut the Flagler lead to 6-2.

Cristello was called out of the bullpen to start the fourth and Crout was there again, starting the inning with a single. A single by Reed, got Crout to third and Reed moved to second on the throw. A sac fly by Lawlor made it 7-2 and Jimmy Peck’s two-run shot capped the scoring for Flagler, giving them a 9-2 lead.

Zac Orchard singled with one out in the eighth and came home on a Sinzenich bomb, making it 9-4.

For more info: Florida Tech @ Flagler Box Score

The Panthers will open their home season with a doubleheader on Saturday, against Drury University. Game one is set for noon and game two will follow, The series wraps up Sunday with a noon contest.