Florida Tech Ends Regular Season with Doubleheader Split


Nick Capra - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography

The Florida Tech Panthers ended their 2017 regular season, splitting a doubleheader at Eckerd. After dropping the first game 11-8, in a slugfest, the Panthers used a three run fourth inning in game two, to secure a 4-2 victory.

With the victory in game two, the Panthers finished the season 10 games over .500 and won four of their last five games.

Game one featured five home runs and was a back-and-forth affair throughout, with Florida Tech starter Tyler Deel going just three innings and Eckerd starter Nick Alonzo, lasting just four. Neither figured in the final outcome.

Florida Tech (30-20, 14-10 SSC) got a run in the top of the first. Grant McKown singled and moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt later in the inning. He came home on a single by Reid Neal. Deel started the bottom of the first by hitting leadoff man Tom Buonopane, but he picked him off moments later. It was one of two pickoffs Deel had in his three innings of work.

Despite the good start to the inning, Deel proceeded to give up back-to-back doubles to Garrett Hiott and Nick Conti, tying the game at one. Sam Cochrane later gave the Tritons the lead with an RBI single.

The second pickoff for Deel would come in the third when he walked Conti, only to pick him. That would be key, because the next batter, Mitch Calandra hit a solo shot, making it 3-1. Cochrane followed with a double and came home on a single by Chase Achuff.

The lead didn’t last long, as the Panthers answered in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Trent Masih singled and after McKown drew a walk, Reid Neal took Alonzo deep, tying the game at four.
A sac fly by Buonopane and an error on shortstop John Sternagel, accounted for two Tritons runs in the bottom of the frame, against reliever Grant Willcoxon, putting Eckerd up, 6-4.

Florida Tech greeted reliever Luis Duran rudely in the top of the fifth. Dan Szpik singled and Nick Capra chased him home with a two-run shot, tying things at six. After David Wilson singled, Ryan Sinzenich hit a two-run homer of his own and just like that, it was 8-6.

Duran finally struck out Vincenzo Catanza, but after giving up a single to Masih, his day was done. He faced six batters, allowing five hits and four runs. Cameron Lanzilli (1-2) came on to get his squad out of the inning and went on to pitch the final 4.2 innings.

Things got away from the Panthers in the sixth, as the Tritons scored five runs. Hiott doubled to make it 8-7, an error led to two more runs and a two-run homer by Cochrane capped the scoring.

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

Neal finished game one 3-for-5, leading the 12-hit attack. Szpik Capra and Masih all finished with two hits. The Tritons had 12 knocks as well, led by Cochrane’s 3-for-3 day with two runs scored.

Game two was not nearly as offensively charged, but the Panthers did come away with a win. The game was delayed by rain in the sixth inning, but they were able to resume and complete it.

Andy Marzheuser got the start and the win for the Panthers. He allowed just two runs in five innings, giving up five hits. He threw just 58 pitches. Brett Porter and Luke Lorah, who pitched in game one, pitched two innings each, in game two.

Florida Tech took the lead in the top of the second inning on a Zac Orchard solo homer, only to see  Daniel Autiello and Terence Hebda get back-to-back RBI hits, giving the Tritons a 2-1 lead.

The Panthers took the lead for good in the fourth. An Erik Molina single and an error, led to a Neal RBI single. One out later, Florida Tech got a run on a wild pitch, taking a 3-2 lead and Capra’s RBI single gave the Panthers all the runs they would need.

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

Update: The NCAA Tournament selection show was held Sunday night and the Panthers were not invited to the tournament, despite their 30-20 record.

Fellow Sunshine State Conference schools Tampa, Florida Southern and defending champion, Nova Southeastern did punch their ticket. Good luck to those teams in their quest for an NCAA Division II championship.



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