Georgia Southwestern Rallies For Split Against FIT
By Space Coast Daily // March 25, 2013
Panthers Host Palm Beach Atlantic Wednesday
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Florida Tech was just three outs away from completing a doubleheader sweep of Georgia Southwestern at Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field on Saturday, but it was not in the cards as the Panthers allowed three runs in the seventh to drop the contest and split the series.
The Panthers earned a 4-3 victory in the first game of the afternoon thanks to some late inning heroics by freshman Austin Allen.
The Panthers trailed 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth, but tied the contest with a pair of runs. Allen began the inning with a double down the left field line and scored two batters later on a Jimmie Koch fielder’s choice.
Koch scored one batter later after a bunt single by Alex Alfonso moved him to third and a throwing error allowed him to scamper home.
Allen arrived at the plate again in the eighth inning with two outs already recorded. He broke the tie with a towering home run over the right field wall to give the Panthers the lead for good. The St. Louis, Mo. native was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored on the game.
Alfonso and junior Dan Bodziak combined for the other half of the Panthers’ six hits, as Alfonso was 2-for-4 and Bodziak was 1-for-3.
In game two, the Panthers and Hurricanes played another tightly-contested game throughout, with FIT taking a one run lead in the fifth inning at 5-4. Florida Tech took the lead thanks to Allen again, who delivered a two out single to score Tyler Doughty.
Georgia Southwestern came up in its final at-bat trailing by one. After loading the bases, Florida Tech recorded back-to-back outs, keeping the lead at one.
Panthers closer James Mannara followed with a seemingly game-ending groundout, however, a throwing error allowed two runs to score. The Hurricanes would add another run in the inning.
Mannara took the loss in the game, albeit not allowing a single earned run in his inning of work. The senior did earn the win in game one to move to 4-3 on the season.
The Panthers collected nine hits in the contest, with Allen again leading the way with a 3-for-4 game. Doughty and junior Ray Maggi added two hits each.
Florida Tech will remain at home for a mid-week game against Palm Beach Atlantic on Wednesday. The Panthers and Sailfish are set to begin at 6 p.m.
