The Florida Tech Panthers took down the Nova Southeastern Sharks 9-8 on Saturday, giving them two consecutive wins over the seventh-ranked team in the country. Saturday’s victory followed a 6-3 win on Friday.
The Panthers outhit NSU 14-7 in this one with Dylan Owens and Alec Eldridge both going 3-for-5 at the plate. And both had a home run in this one. Owens extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Sam Schner went 2-for-4.
Florida Tech (22-6, 7-4 SSC) gave starter Mitchell Harding some run support in the bottom of the second, scoring five runs. Owens and Eldridge started the second inning with back-to-back singles and Diego Garcia was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Hayden Kimball doubled to drive in two and Schner drove in two more with a single before an out was recorded. Paul Castillo singled and scored on a double by Jakob Newton to make it 5-0.
The lead didn’t last long as NSU answered with five runs of their own in the top of the third. Adan Fernandez hit a three-run home run and they got another run on a wild pitch before a single by Daniel Irisarri tied the game.
Harding lasted 2 ⅔ giving up five runs on five hits. He struck out four and walked three, throwing 29 of 56 pitches for strikes. He was relieved by Samuel Orozco, who pitched two innings and allowed three runs, still managing to get the win.
Owens led off the Panthers half of the third with a home run, putting the Panthers in front 6-5. They added a run on a Schner single that scored Garcia and a bases-loaded walk to Newton made it 8-5.
Eldridge hit a solo blast in the bottom of the fourth to male it 9-5. The Sharks got to within one in the top of the fifth, scoring three times. Two of the runs came on an error.
Jason Englert pitched 2 ⅓ innings for the Panthers, allowing one hit before giving way to Alex Carpenter, who got a six-out save, his fifth of the year. He struck out two and walked one.
For more info: NSU @ Florida Tech Box Score
The series will wrap up on Sunday with a noon first pitch.