MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Winona State Warriors (0-7) continued their Florida tour Monday as they took on the Florida Tech Panthers (12-5). Four runs spread over three innings was enough for the Panthers to cruise to their third straight win defeating the Warriors 4-1.
Sam Crocker took the mound for Florida Tech as he set the Warriors down in order to begin play.
Daniel Karlin-Kamin gave up a double in the first, giving the Panthers getting the first baserunner of the contest. After the double, Reid Neal advanced to third on a fly out to right. An ensuing walk would lead to a passed ball advancing both runners and scoring Neal before Karlin-Kamin got out of the inning.
Crocker got the first two outs to begin the second inning before
Andrew Pliner drew a walk for Winona State's first baserunner.
Kipp Youngquist drew another walk before Crocker got the third out. Karlin-Kamin was effective in the second inning as he followed a leadoff fly out with a swinging and looking strikeout.
A to two run, two hit bottom of third for the Panthers put them up 3-0.
Jesus Cazares got Winona State into the hit column to begin the fourth singling to center field. Crocker would get out of the inning two batters, inducing a ground out followed by a double play. The Panthers couldn't repeat their success from the previous inning in the fourth as they were set down in order on a strikeout, ground out and pop out.
The Warriors got their first real scoring opportunity in the fifth inning.
Andrew Pliner singled to right field and advanced on an error that allowed Youngquist to take first base.
Derek Martin's sacrifice bunt advanced both runners giving Winona State men on second and third with one out in the inning. They were unable to score as a double play ended the top half of the inning a batter later. The Panthers opened the home half of the fifth with a double by Sternagel, before a sac bunt advanced him to third. Grant McKown singled to left field one batter later scoring Sternagel widening the advantage to 4-0.
A strike out and a ground out quickly brought the Warriors to their final out of the sixth before Cazares smacked a solo homerun, putting Winona State on the board.
Parker Holmstrom took the mound for the bottom of inning number six setting Florida Tech down in order thanks to two groundouts that preceded a pop out.
Winona State entered the final inning still trailing 4-1.
Paul Mutch pinch hit to begin the inning and was hit by a pitch putting a runner on first. A groundout advanced Mutch to second base a batter later before a fly out brought the Warriors to their final out. Younquist was unable to keep the inning going flying out to center to end the game.
Winona State plays their final game in Florida, Tuesday as they head back to West Palm Beach to face the Palm Beach Atlantic University Sailfish at 5 P.M.
By: Jake Thiede
