Late Runs Carry Panthers Over Tritons



Trent Masih - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography

The Florida Tech Panthers opened their final baseball series of the season Friday, with a 5-3 win over the Eckerd Tritons in St. Petersburg. Trent Masih drove in two runs, with an RBI bunt single in the fifth and a solo home run leading off the ninth inning.

Reid Neal led the Panthers with a 3-for-4 showing, scoring twice and driving in a run. Dan Szpik, and Ryan Sinzenich joined Masih with two hits. 

The Tritons got the scoring started when Tom Buonopane home run in the bottom of the third, against Florida Tech starter Ty Cohen. Neal answered in the top of the fourth with a solo homer, leading off the frame, against Eckerd starter Dillon McCollough.

Eckerd (19-29, 8-14 SSC) regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth. After the first two batters reached on singles, Justin Glover drilled a two-run double, giving the home team a 3-1 lead.

Florida Tech (29-19, 13-9 SSC) tied things up again in the fifth. David Wilson started the inning with a double and went to third on an errant pickoff attempt after Vincenzo Catanza struck out. That error would be key, because Masih dropped down a bunt toward first and Wilson scampered home with the Panthers second run.

After Masih went to second on a wild pitch, he came home on a single by Grant McKown and the game was tied at three.

Cohen was relieved by Colin Cristello to start the sixth inning. Cohen pitched five innings, giving up three earned runs on nine hits. He walked one and struck out one, throwing 73 pitches in the process.
Cristello got a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth and followed that up by striking out the side in the seventh, getting all three hitters swinging.

The Tritons went to the bullpen in the eighth, bringing in Jared Salisbury. Reid Neal singled to start the inning and Salisbury hit John Sternagel with a pitch, before Jack Mahan came on to pitch. He uncorked a wild pitch, allowing the runners to move up. One out later, Mahan walked Nick Capra to load the bases and another wild pitch, allowing Neal to score the Panthers fourth run.

Florida Tech closer Drew Beyer came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth. He hit a batter in the inning, but kept the Tritons off the board, before getting an insurance run in the ninth on the Masih home run.

Eckerd got another runner on in the ninth, but Beyer ended the game by striking out the final two batters.

For more info: Florida Tech @ Eckerd Box Score

The Panthers will wrap up their season on Saturday, with a doubleheader against the Tritons. Game one is scheduled for a noon start, due to impending weather. It was originally scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.

 


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