Connect With Us On Social Media

Panthers Fall to Flagler in Extras

The Florida Tech Panthers (1-6) gave the undefeated Flagler Saints (7-0) all they could handle Tuesday night before dropping a 7-4 decision in 11 innings at Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field. It is the fifth straight loss for the Panthers.

Sean Lawlor, who is one of the Saints’ most dangerous hitters showed why with a two-run double in the 11th. It was his only hit in a 1-for-6 night and broke a 4-4 tie.

Brett Parrish went 3-for-5 to lead the Panthers, who had seven hits on Tuesday. Dylan Owens had two hits, and Jakob Newton and Alec Eldridge had one each.

Florida Tech ambushed Saints starter Codie Lunday in the bottom of the first. Raul Quintero drew a one-out walk. A single by Parrish put runners at the corners, and Parrish then moved up on a passed ball. Owen’s two-run double gave the home team an early lead. After an error put runners at first and third, Newton’s sac fly made it 3-0.

A wild pitch put runners at second and third, and Brendan Riley walked to load the bases, but reliever Casey Todd came on to get the final out of the inning.

Justin Lorenz got the start for the Panthers in this one, and the Saints got to him in the second inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Aaron Anderson cleared the bases with a double down the right-field line. Flagler tied it 3-3.

Lorenz did settle down, getting 1-2-3 innings in the fourth and fifth. Blake Beyel was called on to pitch the sixth, leaving runners at first and second, before Elliott Schubert to end the inning and keep the game tied.

Lorenz allowed three runs on five hits, all earned. He walked one and struck out three, throwing 82 pitches, 55 strikes.

Flagler reliever Austin Kunde came on in the fifth and retired nine in a row. He was the pitcher of record when J.T. Marr reached on a two-base error to start the eighth inning. Pinch-runner Nikolas Dague was chased home by Connor Laspina’s double, giving the Saints a 4-3 lead.

The Panthers answered in the bottom of the frame. Owens singled and was sacrificed to second by Blaise Maris. After a couple of pitching changes, pinch-hitter Alec Eldridge beat out an infield single, loading the bases. Brendan Riley’s sac fly tied the game at four. Again though, the Panthers were unable to get anything else across, and it would prove costly.

Beyel pitched three innings giving up three hits and an unearned run. He struck out two, throwing 23 of his 33 pitches for strikes.

Jake Lane (0-1) came on to pitch the top of the ninth for the Panthers, working in and out of trouble. He would get a quick inning in the top of the 10th, before running into trouble in the 11th.

A double by Alex Amos was sandwiched between two Flagler strikeouts. After an intentional walk, Lawlor’s double made it 6-4. An Adam Mitchell single made it a three-run game, and Ethan Jones came on to strike out the nine, one, and two hitters for the Panthers to end the game.

Lane got the loss, allowing three runs on four hits. He walked one and struck out three.

For more info: Flagler @ Florida Tech Box Score

Florida Tech will host Spring Hill in a three-game weekend series. A doubleheader on Saturday starts at noon, and the final game of the series is scheduled for Sunday, at noon.