Tech Baseball Earns Second Straight Shutout

A Tiffin runner races for second as Gus Fernandez goes for the putout. Florida Tech defeated the Dragons 2-0 Wednesday. Photo by Richard Flutie.

MELBOURNE, Fla. (Baseball) – A pair of runs batted in by JD Davidson and a good defensive effort from the Panthers proved to be the difference Wednesday as #17 Florida Tech posted its second consecutive and fourth overall shutout of the season with a 2-0 win over Tiffin University.

Davidson skied a lead-off bomb to left center in the bottom of the second to put the home team on the board. Just one inning later with the bases juiced, the Panthers did one thing they do very well: produce a two-out rally. Once again Davidson stepped to the plate and this time took ball four to walk in Tony Moos who got the rally started with a single to center. Unfortunately that would be the only run Tech could get across the plate in the frame.

Meanwhile, in a predetermined pitching rotation, the Panther hurlers were taking care of business and getting out of a few jams as the offensive-minded Tiffin Dragons managed to get runners on base in all but two innings. Starter James Mannara gave up two hits in the first, but worked several groundouts and picked off two to get through three innings unscathed.

Dylan Wolchik took the mound to start the fourth, striking out two and catching one runner stealing. Josh Ziemba started the sixth and with two runners on and one away, the southpaw got Cory Hornyak to ground into a double play to end the threat. Then, in the seventh with two on, Tiffin’s Bobby Mullin laid down the sac bunt to move his teammates into scoring position. However, Ziemba was there in the clutch, getting a punch out and fly out to send the Dragons back to the dugout.

It was Andrew Buonanni who came in to pitch the eighth and staved off a Tiffin two-out rally with the help of second baseman Gus Fernandez who leaped several feet to snatch a line drive that would have likely tied the score for the visitors. Finally, Brandon Lindquist took the mound to close things up in the ninth, taking care of the Dragons 1-2-3 to preserve the win. It was the junior’s sixth save of the season.

“We pitched well today,” said head coach Greg Berkemeier. “Now we need to refocus on facing a tough Barry team this weekend and see if we can take three.”

In addition to Davidson and Moos’ hits, Josh Hinkle, who started in center, went 2-for-4 in the win. Mannara improved his record on the mound to 2-1.

Center fielder Ty Blake posted three of the Dragons’ seven hits. Don Smith took the loss for Tiffin, walking five and striking out as many in seven innings of work.

The Panthers now prepare for a three-game Sunshine State Conference series this weekend against Barry University, which is on a 10-game win streak after dropping its first five contests. The Panthers and Bucs kick things off at 2 p.m. on Friday at Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field on the campus of Florida Tech.

All photos provided by Richard Flutie: http://RichardFlutiePhotography.Photostockplus.com.

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