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Streaking Panthers Sweep Doubleheader

Photo: Alec EldridgeCredit: Florida Tech Athletics

 

The Florida Tech Panthers completed a weekend sweep of the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish with a doubleheader sweep on Sunday in West Palm Beach. Tech won game one 7-6 in 14 innings and took game two 5-2 in seven innings. This comes on the heels of Friday’s home win to start the series. With the weekend’s success, the Panthers’ win streak is now at six games.

The Sailfish got on the board first in game one with an unearned run against Panthers starter Mitchell Harding. The Sailfish were looking for more in the inning with the bases loaded, but Harding was able to get the final out without further damage.

The Panthers answered in the second, scoring three runs. A Sam Schner sacrifice fly tied the game 1-1 and a Raul Quintero two-run home run gave the visitors a 3-1 lead. The Panthers were poised to add to the lead in the third inning but had a runner thrown out at the plate.

The score remained that way until the bottom of the sixth when Trent Alley hit a home run to close the gap to 3-2. Harding finished the inning before giving way to Blake Beyel in the seventh. Harding gave up two runs, one earned, and gave up four hits. He walked two and struck out one, throwing 80 pitches (48 strikes).

A wild pitch from Beyel brought the tying run home in the seventh. The Panthers would regain the lead in the ninth. After an error, Rodnie Bernard chased home Quintero with a single to make it 4-3.

Alex Carpenter was called on from the Panthers bullpen in the ninth and allowed the second home run of the day to Alley, tying the game at four.  The Sailfish had a chance to salt the game away, loading the bases later in the inning, but Carpenter worked out of it.

The game remained tied until the top of the 14th when Alec Eldridge hit a three-run blast to make it 7-4. Alley would not let PBA go down without a fight as he hit a third home run in the bottom of the inning, against Panthers reliever Andres Rodriguez. This was a two-run shot making it 7-6.

Jordan Murray got the win in game one, while Rodriguez got the save. Murray relieved Carpenter and pitched four innings, walking three.

For more info: Florida Tech @ PBA Box Score (Game 1)

Game two was a seven-inning tilt and all the damage was done in just two of those innings. Florida Tech starter Justin Lorenz lasted just 2/3rds of an inning, giving up one hit before he gave way to Brian Lopes.

PBA started the second with two walks and a single. That led to a fielder’s choice and a sac fly giving the home team a 2-0 lead.

The Panthers (15-10, 14-9 SSC) would answer in the top of the fourth. Jakob Newton and Bernard hit consecutive doubles to cut the Sailfish lead to 2-1. Diego Garcia’s RBI single made it 2-2 and Eldridge would bring home Garcia to give the Panthers the lead. An error would allow Jack Nagy to reach and two runs came home, giving the Panthers a 5-2 lead.

That would be the end of the scoring and Lopes (1-0) was credited with the win after pitching 4.2 innings, allowing five hits and one earned run. He walked five and struck out six, throwing 96 pitches.

Matt DiNenna earned the save with his 1.2 innings of work.

For more info: Florida Tech @ PBA Box Score (Game 2)

The Panthers will travel to Lakeland on Wednesday for a 5:00 p.m. game. They will return home on Thursday to play these same Sailfish in a doubleheader to wrap up the regular season.