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Wingate Rolls to Victory Over Tech

The Florida Tech Panthers lost their final game in North Carolina on Saturday, falling 10-2 to the host Wingate Bulldogs. Raul Quintero had two of the Panthers’ four hits in this game.

Joey Hecht got the start for the Panthers and ran into trouble in the bottom of the second. Clayton Nestor walked and went to second on a wild pitch. He came home on a double by Andrew Motsinger. Motsinger would later score on a single by Justin Guy, and the Panthers were down 2-0.

McCann Mellett homered to lead off the bottom of the fifth, giving the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead.

Wingate starter Brody McCullough (1-1) got through the first five innings allowing only two hits, walking two and striking out five. Hecht hit Hunter Dula to start the sixth, and he was immediately lifted for reliever Alex Carpenter.

After a walk and a hit by pitch loaded the bases, Dula was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice back to the pitcher. Unfortunately, Guy picked up the slack, roping a bases-clearing double to right and upping the Wingate lead to 6-0.

Hecht (0-1) gave the Panthers five innings, allowing four runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out four, throwing 88 pitches. Carpenter pitched just the sixth inning, allowing two runs on one hit, walking one and striking out one.

Wingate (3-2) would put this one out of reach in the seventh inning, against Sam Crocker. Crocker walked the first two batters he faced, and after a wild pitch, coach Greg Berkemeier went out to get him. Andres Rodriguez then proceeded to walk the first two he faced, bringing in the seventh run.

One out later, a hit by pitch made it 8-0, and the final two runs for the Bulldogs scored on an error that followed.

Florida Tech (1-5) would finally get on the board in the eighth against Bulldogs reliever Riley Isenhour. Quintero singled with one out and Brett Parrish followed with a walk. After Dylan Owens walked to load the bases, Jakob Newton walked, forcing Quintero home. Blaise Maris then reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Parrish, and it was 10-2.

Jake Lane pitched the eighth inning for the Panthers, striking out two. The Florida Tech offense went in order in the ninth.

For more info: Florida Tech @ Wingate Box Score

The Panthers return home Tuesday to take on the Flagler Saints at 6:00 p.m.