After having two games against Barry canceled due to weather last weekend, the Florida Tech Panthers were back home Thursday for a Sunshine State Conference clash against Rollins. The Panthers racked up 14 hits en route to a 7-1 win over the Tars.
Jacob Buser had a 5-for-5 day at the plate, knocking in one run and scoring another. Raul Quintero went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while James Gronberg and Brett Parrish each had two hits.
Colin Cristello (4-3) gave the Panthers seven innings on the mound, allowing six hits. He struck out six and walked two, throwing 61 of his 91 pitches for strikes. Cameron Enck allowed two earned runs in six innings of work for Rollins, absorbing the loss.
Buser got his first hit in the bottom of the first, putting runners at the corners. The Panthers came up empty in that frame. Rollins left a runner at third in the third inning, and they had two runners on in the fourth before Cristello got a double play behind him. The Tars would strand another runner at third in the fifth.
Florida Tech (27-18, 15-11 SSC) finally dented the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth. Gronberg singled with two outs and went to third on a single by Buser. Buser would then break for second, drawing a throw. The second baseman then threw home, in an attempt to get Gronberg, but the throw was short and bounced away, giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Buser took third on the play but was stranded there.
The Panthers would add a run in the sixth on a Vinny Catanza groundout, before putting the game out of reach in the seventh inning. With two outs, Buser singled. After Blaise Maris was hit by a pitch, Buser stole third and Maris took second. After Brett Parrish walked to load the bases, Quintero singled up the middle, chasing home two runs. Dylan Owens followed with a single of his own, giving the Panthers a 5-0 lead.
The Tars would pick up a run in the eighth on a single by Luke Reidy against Panthers reliever Justin Barney.
Florida Tech’s final two runs came against Tate Stone-Frisina, who gave up back-to-back RBI doubles from Gronberg and Buser.
For more info: Rollins @ Florida Tech Box Score
The Panthers will look for their third straight win on Friday when they take on Rollins in game two of the series. First pitch is at 1:00 p.m.