Florida Tech wrapped up their 2019 season with a 4-2 win over Rollins on Saturday, sending their seniors out on a good note. The Panthers win was their fourth in a row and completed a three-game sweep of the Tars at Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field.
Raul Quintero had the big hit for the Panthers in the first inning, a three-run double. He was 2-for-3 on the day, as was senior Rodnie Bernard.
The Panthers ended the day with just five hits, but they made them count. Bernard singled to start the game but was erased on a James Gronberg fielder’s choice. Gronberg stole second and Blaise Maris walked. The two pulled off a double steal, moments later, getting Gronberg to third and Maris to second. That was the sixth stolen base of the series for Gronberg.
Gronberg had 28 steals for the season and 72 for his career, which is second all-time. He was three away from setting a new standard.
After Brett Parrish walked to load the bases, Quintero skied a double to right field off of Rollins lefty starter Jimmy Robbins that went over the head of Kyle Hintz. Quintero tried to get to third but was thrown out, ending the inning.
Panthers senior Rhett Willis got the start for the Panthers. He went the first two innings, striking out five before the Panthers bullpen was asked to go the rest of the way. The first to answer the call was Justin Lorenz. He struck out two of the three batters he faced in the third.
Bernard got the Panthers going with a single in the bottom of the third. He advanced to second on a wild pitch later in the inning and eventually scored on a single from Parrish, giving the Panthers a 4-0 lead.
Lorenz (4-2) allowed a run in the top of the fifth when Luke Reidy knocked home Isaiah Russell with a single. Lorenz allowed three hits and that one run in his three innings of work. He walked two and struck out two, throwing 58 pitches and earning the win.
Jordan Murray started the sixth for the Panthers and got two outs in the seventh before he attempted a pickoff at first that got away. resulting in an error. Reidy would follow with a single, bringing Cameron Meehan with Rollins second run. Reidy would finish 3-for-5 on the day.
Following the run scoring, Justin Barney took over on the mound for the Panthers and got the final out in the seventh. He would record a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth, before turning things over to Panthers closer Ryan Allain in the ninth.
Allain would allow a single to Russell in the inning and walk a batter, but he stranded the tying runs at second and third when he struck out Reidy to end the game. With that, Allain recorded save number 13, which is a program record for the Panthers in a single season.
For more info: Rollins @ Florida Tech Box Score
The 2019 season has now come to a close for the Panthers, who finished with a 29-18 record, including 17-11 in the Sunshine State Conference. They ended the season winning seven of their last eight and 13 of 17.
We would like to thank Florida Tech coach Greg Berkemeier for granting us interviews this season. It is always much appreciated. Good luck to all of the seniors, as they now embark on the next stage of their life.