Florida Tech’s Senior Day Spoiled By Tampa, Series Sweep

By  //  April 19, 2015

Florida Tech's Overall Record After Saturday Dropped to 33-10

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Head coach Greg Berkemeier has repeatedly referred to execution as the key to his club’s success thus far this season, but on Saturday it was apparent the lack thereof can spark just the opposite. (Photo by Amanda Stratford Photography)

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Head coach Greg Berkemeier has repeatedly referred to execution as the key to his club’s success thus far this season, but on Saturday it was apparent the lack thereof can spark just the opposite.

Looking out of sorts throughout, No. 11 Florida Tech staggered to back-to-back 9-2 and 11-3 defeats to Tampa on Senior Day this afternoon.

The pair of losses clinched the first time the Panthers have ended up on the short end of a series sweep this season, having now dropped five of six overall.

Tops in the Sunshine State Conference in both extra-base hits and walks allowed, Florida Tech has struggled sticking to its M.O. during its recent rough patch.

Tyler Doughty
Tyler Doughty
Kevin Wortman
Kevin Wortman

The Panthers combined for a respectable 17 hits Saturday, however, a Tyler Doughty solo homer and a Kevin Wortman double were the only two worth extra bases.

Defensively, the Panther pitching staff yielded a total of 13 walks in 18 innings after surrendering 62 through the season’s first 40 games.

As part of 37-pitch first inning in game one, senior Scotty Ward yielded a pair of base on balls to aid a two-run opening frame for the Spartans.

Doughty quickly cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the inning, though, with a RBI single lined back up the middle.

Sticking within reach, it was Doughty once again in the fifth, notching a sacrifice fly to left to keep the Tampa advantage to just one run.

Looking to get over the hump, Florida Tech came up empty time and time again, as it seemed the Spartans had everything swaying in their favor.

Forcing constant pressure on the Florida Tech defense, Tampa pushed across two runs apiece in the sixth, eighth and ninth innings, wrapping up the series victory with the finale still yet to be played.

Once again, the Panthers showed promise early on in the afternoon’s late affair, as Doughty’s blast over the wall in center gave them their first lead of the series at 1-0 in the bottom of the second.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Tampa evened the score on an uncharacteristic wild pitch in the third.

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Desperately in need of a win, Florida Tech unfortunately had no answer for the Spartans’ offensive attack.

Third baseman Nick Flair tallied his second home run of the day, and Tampa used a five-run fourth inning to doom the Panthers in front of the home crowd at Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field.

One of only two Panthers with multi-hit efforts in the series wrap-up, freshman Ryan Sinzenich tied a season-high in hits with a notable 3-for-4 performance.

Despite the setback, FIT remains in the hunt for its first NCAA Division II Regional berth since 2013.