Florida Tech held off a late comeback from Winona State on Tuesday, beating the Warriors 9-7 at Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field. With the win, Florida Tech improves to 17-5 overall and has now won six in a row. This streak comes after the Panthers won 11 of their first 12 to start the season.
The Panthers had eight hits in this game with Dylan Owens going 2-for-4. Jakob Newton extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a single in the bottom of the second.
Florida Tech starting hurler Joey Hecht gave his team six innings but left with a no-decision. He threw 93 pitches (63 strikes).
Winona State starter Caleb Strack struggled out of the gate walking Dylan Dohanos, hitting Jack Nagy, and walking Newton to load the bases. Brett Parrish then earned a walk and an RBI. A double-play grounder scored Nagy, to make it 2-0. The Panthers then pulled off a double steal with Alec Eldridge stealing second and Newton stealing home. Paul Castillo then chased Eldridge home to put the Panthers up 4-0.
The Warriors got a run back in the top of the second when Miller Wallace singled home a run. Florida Tech answered in the bottom of the inning when Newton singled in Hayden Kimball to make it 5-1, extending his hitting streak in the process.
Winona State got two runs back in the top of the fifth to make it 5-3, but the Panthers got one back in the bottom of the inning on a sac fly by Eldridge, scoring Parrish and doubling the Panthers lead to 6-3. The Warriors would cut the deficit to two with a sacrifice fly by Cooper Kapanke in the top of the sixth.
Jason Englert relieved Hecht to start the seventh. He retired the side in that inning, but allowed the first two runners to reach, and was relieved by Aiden Pryzgoda. A fielder’s choice made it 6-5, before Dane Weiland hit a two-run home run to left, putting the Warriors in the lead, 7-6. Pryzgoda would hit a batter but then induced a double-play grounder to end the inning.
Owens and Eldridge singled to start the Panthers half of the eighth and one out later, another double steal by Eldridge and Luca Wentzel tied the game 7-7. Hayden Kimball later doubled home Eldridge as the Panthers regained the lead 8-7. Dohanos would later hit a sac fly to score Kimball.
Pryzgoda (2-0) got through the ninth, stranding two runners and picking up the win. He allowed one run on three hits, with one of the runs on the home run being charged to him.
For more info: Winona State @ Florida Tech Box Score
The Panthers will host Eckerd in a three-game series starting Friday at 6:00 p.m.