In a battle between a pair of top-notch ball clubs, 15th-ranked Florida Tech came up empty offensively and eventually stumbled 5-1 at home against the seventh-ranked Flagler Saints Tuesday evening. (Photo by Ryan Seeloff)
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – In a battle between a pair of top-notch ball clubs, 15th-ranked Florida Tech came up empty offensively and eventually stumbled 5-1 at home against the seventh-ranked Flagler Saints Tuesday evening.
The Panthers were limited to eight hits, all singles, and a season-low one run as Flagler stifled them with a combination of five different pitchers, including senior Danny Brown who improved to 6-2 in the winning effort.
Greg Berkemeier
“I thought they did a good executing pitches, number one tonight,” said head coach Greg Berkemeier following only the fourth defeat of the season for the Panthers.
“It’s the old adage – good pitching stops good hitting. I thought they pitched very well tonight. They didn’t give us anything. It’s really challenging to score runs when all you end up with is a bunch of singles. Without extra base hits you have find a way to get an extra 90 feet somehow, and we weren’t able to do that.”
Florida Tech appeared to have the upper hand early, finding success both offensively and defensively.
Kevin Wortman
The Panthers struck first in the third inning when Grant McKown found a hole through the right side of the infield to drive in Kevin Wortman, giving Florida Tech the 1-0 edge.
The lone run seemed it may do the trick with the way starter Ty Cohen came out dealing. The right-hander allowed just one baserunner through the game’s first four innings, fanning five.
However, Cohen’s no-hit bid and shutout evaporated in the fifth, as Flagler pushed two runs across on an Igor Baez triple to right field.
Cohen labored once again in the sixth, and was ultimately pulled after the Flagler extended its lead to 5-1.
“He lost his ability to execute some pitches there in the middle innings,” said Berkemeier when asked about his freshman pitcher.
“He started elevating, and missing some spots and it gave them some opportunities.”
Scoring opportunities were few and far between, but the Panthers gave themselves a chance with the bases loaded in the eighth. Flagler reliever Chris Lake, however, got Daniel Szpik to roll over on a grounder to second to end the frame.
Brett PorterPatrick Geraghty
Brett Porter and Pat Geraghty combined for a perfect 3.1 innings of work out of the Panther bullpen Tuesday night.
Tyler Doughty tallied two more base knocks out of the designated hitter slot, raising his average to a team-best .456.
FIT dives back into Sunshine State Conference action Friday at 6 p.m. with a visit from Florida Southern.
