MELBOURNE, Fla. - - A five-run sixth inning powered Florida Tech to an 8-3 victory over the Wilmington University baseball on Friday night at Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field.
The Panthers (13-8) scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth and then tacked on two runs in the seventh and one more in the eighth. The win was the fifth in a row for the Panthers.
The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the sixth. An error led off the inning, allowing Shawn Haut to reach base. Now on third, JJ Killen hit a sacrifice fly to center, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
Three consecutive hits to start the sixth gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead. An error brought in the third run and then a two-out, two-run double to left made it 5-1 as the Panthers collected five runs on five hits and two Wildcat errors in the inning.
Florida Tech collected four more hits in the bottom of the seventh scoring two runs on an RBI double and a wild pitch. A leadoff double then came around to score in the bottom of the eighth to make it 8-1.
CJ Deery started the ninth with a single and then Erik Grady doubled to right center. Mason DeLuca delivered with his first collegiate base hit; an RBI single to left. Jack McDonald grounded into a fielder's choice to score the second run, but the momentum of the inning was lost. Another fielder's choice ended the contest, with the Wildcats scoring two runs on three hits in the inning.
Tyler Reinert started the game and threw three scoreless innings, striking out a pair in the no-decision. Anthony Giordano came on and tossed two more scoreless innings, only allowing one hit. Zach Czarnecki took the loss with allowing four of the runs in the sixth.
Nick Classie went 2-for-3 while JJ Killen, Eddie Parry, CJ Deery, Erik Grady, and Mason DeLuca all had one hit. The Wildcats struck out 11 times and left nine runners on base in the loss.
The Wildcats round out their trip to Florida on Saturday with a doubleheader against Grand Valley State at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for 4:15 p.m.