Box Score
MELBOURNE, Fla. – Brian Flynn drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to send Florida Tech past the Eckerd College baseball program in a Friday-night heartbreaker, 5-4.
The Panthers (19-12, 5-4 SSC) were issued three consecutive walks to end a bizarre game in which the Tritons (13-15, 2-8 SSC) rallied back from a 4-0 deficit with a four-spot in the top of the eighth inning, capped by a three-run home run belted by senior
Joey LaRose.
Flynn's bases-loaded base-on-ball allowed Brent Bontrager to cross the plate with the winning run.
FT's Kevin Wortman and K.C. Clabough each drew two-out walks to load the bases against EC reliever
Robbie Nabers, who was on the verge of extending the game into extra innings after striking out De'Von Richardson and erasing Ryan Coward on a fielder's choice.
Nabers threw 1 2/3 innings in relief of senior starter
Joey Cuda, who struck out nine in seven frames.
Cuda was touched up for three runs on three hits in the fourth inning as Coward had an RBI single to open up the scoring. With two outs yet in the fourth, Bontrager delivered a two-run single to center that had the Panthers out in front, 3-0.
After the Panthers scored an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh, the Tritons made their charge in the eighth frame against FT starter Jason Boyer and reliever James Mannara.
Boyer gave up back-to-back walks before being pulled in favor of Mannara. Senior
David Regidor greeted him rudely out of the bullpen with an RBI single that put EC on the board and plated
Aaron Shapiro.
With one swing in the very next at-bat against Mannara, LaRose knotted the game up at 4-4 with his three-run blast, his third bomb of the season that scored
Dan Capra and Regidor.
Even though he received a no-decision, Cuda began his outing with 2 2/3 scoreless innings before Clabough broke up the no-hit bid with a bunt single in the third. Boyer matched Cuda on the mound and struck out the side in order in the fourth to finish with seven punchouts on the night.
Clabough and Coward each finished with two hits apiece while Regidor recorded a multi-hit game for the Tritons. Florida Tech held an 8-6 advantage in the hit column.
The Tritons and Panthers will meet again on the diamond in Melbourne tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at noon. Live stats and live audio links will be available for the twinbill.
