Photo: Raul Quintero
The No. 2 Tampa Spartans completed a weekend sweep of Florida Tech with back-to-back shutouts in a doubleheader sweep on Saturday in Tampa. They took game one 7-0, and game two 1-0 in seven innings.
Coming off a 7-1 win on Friday in Melbourne, the Spartans kept the foot on the gas pedal, running their record to 7-1. Florida Tech falls to 4-3 overall.
The Panthers managed just four hits in game one against Tampa starter Braydon Nelson. Raul Quintero, Rodnie Bernard, Dylan Owens, and Alec Eldridge each had a single in the contest.
Panthers starter Mitchell Harding took the loss in game one, despite keeping the Spartans at bay for the first four innings. After walking the leadoff batter in the fifth, Harding gave up a double to J.D. Urso, putting the first run on the board. Urso would later score on a groundout, making it 2-0.
After giving up a one-out single in the bottom of the sixth, Harding gave way to reliever Matt DiNenna. Harding deserved a better fate, allowing two runs on five hits in 5 ⅓ innings. He struck out two and walked one, throwing 52 of his 82 pitches for strikes.
Tampa struck for five runs in the eighth, highlighted by a pinch-hitter Luke Glancy’s three-run home run against reliever Blake Beyel.
For more info: Florida Tech @ Tampa Box Score (Game 1)
Game two saw the teams combine for seven hits in the 1-0 Tampa victory.
Florida Tech starter Justin Lorenz allowed just two hits in five innings of work. He walked one and struck out three, throwing 33 of 48 pitches for strikes.
Sam Schner had two of the Panthers four hits, with Bernard and Eldridge each picking up their third hit of the day.
Spartans starter Eric Linder went six innings, allowing four hits. He struck out three and walked two in his 93-pitch performance.
The only run of the game came in the sixth inning when E.J. Cumbo took Panthers reliever Danny Vassallo deep. It was the only hit he allowed.
Nik Constantakos came in to pitch the seventh and overcame an error, striking out the last two batters of the game.
For more info: Florida Tech @ Tampa Box Score (Game 2)
The Panthers return home Thursday, March 25 to take on Barry in a 4:00 tilt.