No. 8 Panthers Sweep Sailfish With 5-2 Victory Sunday
By Florida Tech // February 24, 2014
will open conference play next weekend
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The No. 8 Florida Tech Panthers finished their series with Palm Beach Atlantic Sunday afternoon at Seminick-Hall Field.
The Panthers overcame a deficit in the seventh inning, and earned the 5-2 victory.
The victory gave the Panthers the three-game sweep of the Sailfish, and extended the club’s winning streak to eight games.
The Sailfish (4-7-1) were first on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the second inning. Patrick Nickler brought home Andres Vazquez with a base hit to left.
Anthony Ortiz then brought Nickler home with an infield single. The runs gave Palm Beach Atlantic the early lead.
Trailing by two runs, the Panthers (12-1) cut into the deficit with a run in the fifth inning.
Junior Kevin Wortman reached base with a double down the left field line. Wortman was brought home by freshman Andrew Calderone on a single through the left side.
Still down 2-1, the Panthers broke through with four runs in the bottom of the seventh. Seniors Dan Bodziak and Andrew Bartlett recorded RBIs, and the Panthers took advantage of miscues by the Sailfish to take a 5-2 lead. The Sailfish left 14 runners on base, as the Panthers closed out the game with the 5-2 win.
Freshman Will Simpson (3-0) earned the win for the Panthers out of the bullpen.
Freshman Brett Porter closed out the game for his second save of the season. Freshman Grant Willcoxon started the game for the Panthers. Willcoxon pitched 6.1 innings, gave up two runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out two in the no decision.
Alex Greener (0-3) suffered the loss for the Sailfish. Greener pitched six innings, gave up three runs with one being earned, and walked six batters.
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The Panthers will be on the road Wednesday as they travel to face Barry. The squad will open Sunshine State Conference play next weekend when they host No. 9 Nova Southeastern in a three-game series.
