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Hecht Twirls Gem against No. 7 Sharks

Header pic: Joey HechtFlorida Tech Athletics

Joey Hecht made a spot start Friday night against the 7th-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks (18-4, 3-4 SSC) and the Panthers came away with a 6-3 victory at Andy-Seminick-Les Hall Field.

Hecht started in place of Boris Villa and gave the Panthers six innings of shutout, no-hit baseball. He finally allowed a hit in the top of the seventh and lost the shutout one batter later, but it was a career night for him on the mound.

Offensively, the Panthers had 13 hits with Dylan Dohanos, Jakob Newton, Brett Parrish, and Sam Schner getting two hits apiece.

 

Florida Tech (21-6, 6-4 SSC) got on the board in the bottom of the first. Paul Castillo reached on a fielder’s choice and later scored on a Parrish single. They would add a run in the bottom of the second, with Diego Garcia starting the frame with a double. He would score on a Schner single, making it 2-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, Alec Eldridge singled with one out and stole second. He would score on a Hayden Kimball single.

The Panthers got their final runs in the bottom of the fifth. Dohanos singled and went to third on a Castillo double. Newton knocked them both in with a double of his own, making it 5-0. They would tack on a run when Dylan Owens RBI single brought Newton home.

Meanwhile, Hecht retired 17 in a row as he started the seventh inning. Adam Frank singled to start the seventh and break up the no-hitter. Adan Fernandez followed with a two-run homer and the Sharks were on the board, 6-2. After getting one more out, Hecht was lifted for reliever Danny Vassallo.

Hecht (1-0) pitched 6 ⅓ innings, allowing two runs on two hits and walking two. He struck out five batters, throwing 95 pitches, 54 for strikes.

The only run Vassallo would allow was a home run off the bat of Michael Avendano in the top of the ninth.

Vassallo pitched 2 ⅔ innings, earning his second save. He allowed one run on two hits, walked one, and struck out four. He threw 59 pitches, 33 strikes.

For more info: NSU @ Florida Tech Box Score

The series continues tomorrow with a 1:30 first pitch at Seminick-Hall Field.