Freshman Sam Schner went 4-for-5 with four RBIs and two runs scored Friday night as Florida Tech beat Nova Southeastern 10-7 in a Division II baseball showdown.
The Panthers (3-1) had a good all-around game racking up 11 hits and earning nine walks. They finished the night 5-for-14 with two outs and went 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
Diego Garcia went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Brett Parrish, Alec Eldridge, and Blaise Maris all joined Schner with two runs scored.
NSU (0-1) got on the board first against Florida Tech starter Boris Villa in the bottom of the first inning. After a single and a walk, Adan Fernandez hit a three-run home run to put the home team in front early.
Sharks starter JP Williams kept the Panthers quiet until the fifth inning when Eldridge got an infield hit. Maris would draw a walk bringing Schner to the plate and he promptly singled in Eldridge to make it 3-1. After a Raul Quintero walk loaded the bases, Jakob Newton then waited out Williams for a walk and an RBI, closing the gap to 3-2. That would be the last batter Williams would face.
In the sixth inning, Florida Tech drew back-to-back one-out walks and a wild pitch from reliever Jacob Bove. After he walked Eldridge to load the bases, Bove was lifted for Jose Varela. One out later Schner would rocket a single back from whence it came to knock in two and put the Panthers on top 4-3. A Quintero single would load the bases and Newton drew a walk to make it 5-3.
Andres Rodriguez relieved Villa to start the bottom of the sixth. Villa (1-0) gave the Panthers five innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out six and walked one. Rodriguez worked around two errors on one play, to keep the Sharks off the board.
A Parrish solo home run in the top of the seventh doubled the Panthers’ lead to 6-3. Florida Tech would add a run in the eighth. Schner would start the inning with a double. He would later score on a wild pitch, making it a 7-3 game.
Panthers reliever Alex Carpenter (S, 1) got a defensive gem behind him from Quintero in the bottom of the eighth helping to turn a 6-3 double-play. Unfortunately, after a hit-by-pitch put two runners on, Tyler Epstein hit his first career home run for the Sharks, and just like that, it was a 7-6 game.
The good guys in gray would answer with three of their own in the top of the ninth. With runners at first and third Schner beat out an infield hit and bringing home the eighth run. Newton’s 2-run triple later in the inning made it 10-6. Newton ended the night with four RBIs.
For more info: Florida Tech @ Nova Southeastern Box Score
These two teams will meet in Melbourne tomorrow for a doubleheader. Game one will get underway at 2:00 p.m.