MELBOURNE, Fla. - Florida Tech scored twice on Drury miscues in the bottom of the eighth to rally for a 7-6 victory over the Panthers in the opener of their three-game, non-conference series played at Space Coast Stadium Friday night.
DU sophomore R.J. Knese went 5-for-5 at the plate with two runs and three runs batted in, but it wasn't enough in the matchup of Panthers, as Drury rallied from an early 4-0 deficit, took a 6-5 lead with three in the seventh, then watched it melt away with a couple of eighth-inning throws.
FTU had runners at second and third in the eighth after a one-out double by Michael Demma when DU closer Zane Montgomery entered in relief of Evan Jones. Montgomery struck out the home Panthers' Kevin Villa for the second out, but Tech scored soon after when Chris Fox came home on a wild pitch and Demma also scored after an errant throw from the catcher Knese.
DU freshman Chris Barratt started and lasted just three innings, surrendering four hits, four runs (three earned) and walking five while striking out two as Tech built a 4-0 lead over the first four innings.
But Drury answered, scoring three times in the fifth on a two-run double from Knese and Joe Rohlfing's 11th triple of the season, scoring Knese to make it 4-3. Tech scored another run in the fifth to make it 5-3, but DU countered with three more in the seventh to take a 6-5 lead. Knese and Rohlfing had RBI singles and Harrison Waters added a sacrifice fly to account for the scoring.
Drury out-hit FTU 13-7, but was hurt by three errors. Rohlfing finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and Bret Gallion had two hits and scored twice to lead the visiting Panthers.
Drury (18-17) and Florida Tech (25-16) will meet in a doubleheader Saturday starting at 11 a.m. CST.
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