Florida Tech was on the diamond for the first time since February 8th on Saturday and they split a doubleheader against Spring Hill in Mobile, Alabama.
The Panthers won game one easily, getting 11 hits in a 10-4 triumph. They were in position to sweep the twin bill, but Spring Hill had other ideas, as they came through with a 3-2 walk-off win, setting up a decisive game three Sunday afternoon.
The game two loss spoiled a five-inning, one hit performance by Colin Cristello. The game was final after seven innings.
In game one, Andy Marzheuser was even more impressive. He pitched five shutout innings, giving up six hits. He threw 77 pitches. His offense gave him plenty of support, scoring six runs in the first two innings against Badgers starter Tucker Powell.
Powell walked the first two batters and Jacob Buser smoked a double to left, plating Raul Quintero and James Gronberg, giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead. Blaise Maris had a single later in the inning, accounting for the Panthers third run.
Pedro Rivera was the recipient of two errors on one play leading off the second. His popup was dropped and followed by a wild throw, allowing him to reach second. Quntero’s infield single allowed Rivera to get to third. After Quintero stole second, Buser was intentionally walked later in the inning. That was followed by a bases-loaded walk to Dylan Owens, making it 4-0. Rodnie Bernard‘s double plated two more and put the Panthers up 6-0.
Owens RBI single in the fourth made it 7-0 and a solo home run by James Gronberg in the sixth inning made it 8-0. They went up 10-0 in the top of the eighth when Brett Parrish walked and came home on a two-run blast by Owens.
Spring Hill finally got on the board against reliever Jake Lane in the bottom of the eighth. Chris George doubled home Neil Ring, who doubled to lead off the inning, making it 10-1.
Lane got through the eighth, completing his third inning of work. He allowed one run on three hits, striking out one. He threw 45 pitches.
Trtisten Adams came in to pitch the ninth for the Panthers and got knocked around a bit, giving up four hits. Ring’s second double of the day knocked in two, making it 10-3. Ring would score on a single by Gavin Crimmins, capping the scoring.
For more info: Florida Tech @ Spring Hill College (Game 1)
Maris got the Panthers (2-5) started in the second inning of game two, hitting a solo homer off of starter Chance Shell. In the third inning, Gronberg drew a leadoff walk and stole second. A Buser ground out got Gronberg to third and he scored on a single by Owens.
John Sklopan got the only hit off Cristello leading off the bottom of the third. Cristello would go five innings, allowing one hit, striking out four and walking one. Ryan Allain took over in the sixth.
Daniel Rodriguez started the home half of the seventh with a single for Spring Hill and went to second on a wild pitch. A walk and a hit by pitch loaded the bases. Ring did not start game two, but entered as a pinch-hitter, and he made the move pay off with a two-run single down the line in right, tying the game at two. Sklopan made it to third.
Allain intentionally walked Luke Wall, pushing Ring to second. That brought Grayson Williams to the plate and he grounded to short, and the out was recorded at second, but Sklopan raced home, giving the Badgers a 3-2 walk-off win.
For more info: Florida Tech @ Spring Hill (Game 2)
The series wraps up Sunday with first pitch scheduled for noon.