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Lynn Sweeps Doubleheader From Panthers in Walk-Off Fashion

After starting the series Friday with an 11-4 win, Florida Tech and Lynn got one of Saturday’s scheduled games in and got through seven innings tied 2-2 in game two before the rains came which led to the game being suspended with one out in the top of the eighth. 

That game was resumed Sunday morning with Lynn winning it on a walk-off single and completing the sweep of the doubleheader by scores of 7-6, and 3-2 (10 innings).

The Panthers went down early in game one, leaving a runner at third in each of the first two innings and a runner at second in the third.

Lynn got to Panthers starter Mitchell Harding in the bottom of the second, scoring four times. Ryan Ford led off with a home run and an error and a groundout led to two more runs. An RBI single by Brandon Kruzinski scored the fourth run. The only run that was earned in the inning was the Ford home run.

After a hit by pitch, a sac bunt, a walk, and a passed ball put a runner at third, Harding was lifted in favor of Samuel Orozco. Kruzinski greeted him with a sac fly and the Fighting Knights were up 5-0.

Harding (3-3) gave the Panthers 3.1 innings, giving up five runs (one earned) on four hits. He walked three and did not strike out a batter, throwing 53 pitches (29 strikes).

Florida Tech got on the board in the top of the sixth against Lynn reliever Nathan Draves. Brett Parrish and Jack Nagy singled and a single by Diego Garcia plated Parrish to make it 5-1. A wild pitch in the bottom of the inning gave Lynn that run back and a 6-1 lead.

The Panthers’ comeback started in the top of the eighth when Garcia was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Sam Schner scored Alec Eldridge with a sac fly to close the gap to 6-3. A bases-loaded hit by pitch gave the Fighting Knights an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth and they would need it.

Panthers reliever Andrew Dunham was called on to get the final out of that eighth inning. The Florida Tech ninth-inning comeback started against Lynn reliever Jake Buxbaum.

Jakob Newton reached on a fielder’s choice and Parrish singled to put runners at the corners. That brought Dylan Owens to the plate and he took Buxbaum deep to make it a 7-6 game. Buxbaum bounced back to retire the final two batters and Lynn hung on for the win in game one.

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

Game two saw Justin Lorenz get the start for the Panthers. He struggled with his control, walking four batters in 1 ⅓ innings. That said, he only allowed one hit and did not give up a run, throwing 41 pitches (19 strikes).

Noah Steckley came out of the bullpen in the bottom of the second after Lorenz walked the bases loaded and he got the final two outs.

Lynn (21-13, 9-9 SSC) broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth. Peter Avino singled and Pedro Martinez reached on an error with two outs. Brandon Kruzinski singled and went to 2nd on the throw as Avino scored and Martinez went to third. A wild pitch allowed Martinez to score. Both runs were unearned.

The Panthers 26-11, 9-9 SSC) got their first run in the top of the fifth when Dylan Dohanos singled and later scored on a sac fly by Newton. Andres Rodriguez took over for Steckley to start the bottom of the fifth. Steckley allowed three hits and two unearned runs in 2 ⅔ innings. He struck out three, throwing 27 of his 39 pitches for strikes.

Florida Tech would tie the game in the top of the sixth. Dylan Owens singled and Eldridge was hit by a pitch. Nagy’s sac bunt moved the runners to second and third. With Luca Wentzel pinch-running at third, a groundout by Schner brought him in, knotting the game at two.

Lynn threatened in the bottom of the sixth. Anthony Sanabria singled with Martinez at second and Martinez attempted to score but was thrown out at the plate as Parrish threw him out from right field. Florida Tech left two runners on in the top of the seventh before the Fighting Knights were retired in order in the bottom of the frame.

The game was then delayed with one out in the top of the eighth due to bad weather. Rodriguez was the pitcher of record at the time of the stoppage. He gave the Panthers three innings, allowing two hits, walking two, and striking out one. He threw 46 pitches (26 strikes).

Game two resumed at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday with Garcia at the plate for the Panthers. They stranded a runner in the inning before Panthers closer Alex Carpenter was called on to pitch the eighth and ninth.

The game went into extra innings with Drew Dwyer pitching for Lynn. He came in one batter into the seventh on Saturday, before giving way to Jake Buxbaum with two on and two out in the 10th. He got Schner on strikes, stranding runners at the corners.

Avino singled to start the 10th and was sacrificed to second before a groundout moved him to third. He would eventually score on a single by Anthony Sanabria, giving the home team the walk-off win.

For more info: Florida Tech @ Lynn (Game 2)

The Panthers return home on Friday, April 8 to start a three-game series against Saint Leo. The first pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.