MELBOURNE, Fla.—The Barry Buccaneers mauled the Florida Tech Panthers 6-1 in the opening game of a Sunshine State Conference baseball series at Hall/Seminick Field on Friday. The Bucs scored five runs in the seventh inning to come away with the win.
The Panthers (24-10-1, 8-5 SSC) drew first blood in the opening frame on back-to-back doubles by Tyler Wright and Mitch Saum.
The Bucs (22-9, 4-3 SSC) evened it in the fourth inning on four straight hits. Nick Shaw knocked in Mitch Rodriguez to knot the game at 1-1.
In the seventh, the Bucs loaded the bases with no one out. Andrew Frezza singled, John Servidio drew a walk and Joel Keefe was hit by Tech reliever Jake Koch. After a fielder’s choice retired Frezza at the plate, Rodriguez singled in Servidio and Chris Leon knocked in Keefe. Rodriguez and Carlos Gomez scored on a wild pitch and an error and Brett Rossi squeezed in Leon.
Ray Rhoads (4-1), making his first start in a month, pitched eight innings, allowing just one run on three hits and a walk with eight strikeouts. Brian Mastin pitched a perfect ninth inning in a non-save situation.
Koch (4-3) took the loss for the Panthers. He allowed five runs (four earned) on three hits and two walks in 3.1 innings. He struck out one.
Rodriguez paced the Bucs’ offense with four hits and two runs. Leon added three hits, while Frezza had two. Aside from Wright and Saum, only JD Davidson registered a hit for the Panthers.
The teams finish the SSC series with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 pm.
(03/28/2008 at Melbourne, Fla.)
Barry 6, Florida Tech 1
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Barry...................... 000 100 500 - 6 12 0 (22-9, 4-3 SSC)
Florida Tech........ 100 000 000 - 1 3 2 (24-10-1, 8-5 SSC)
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Pitchers: Barry - Ray Rhoads; Brian Mastin(9). Florida Tech - Matt Schurig; Jake Koch(5); Tyler Carman(9).
Win-Ray Rhoads(4-1) Loss-Jake Koch(4-3) T-2:35 A-165