MELBOURNE, Fla.—The Barry Buccaneers gave up five runs in the ninth inning to drop the opener of a Sunshine State Conference baseball series to the Florida Tech Panthers 7-6 at Seminick-Hall Field on Friday.

 

The Bucs (27-14-1, 6-7 SSC) got on the board in the second inning when Cesar Aranguren singled and came in on a sacrifice fly by Jesse Naber.

 

In the third inning, with Orestes Gonzalez on second and Aranguren aboard at first, Nick Corbeil hit a bullet to Panther third baseman Brandon Veronee who booted it to allow Gonzalez to score. Naber followed with a two-run double to make it 4-0.

 

Florida Tech (22-18, 7-9 SSC) clawed two runs off the lead in the bottom of the third. With two outs and first base open, Jonathan Baksh lashed a two-run double, scoring Paul Stone and Nick Brennan to trim the lead to 4-2.

 

Barry got single runs in the fifth and ninth to make it 6-2 heading into the final frame. Corbeil stroked an RBI double in the fifth and lifted a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

 

Buccaneer starter Jayson Brown (5-4) began the ninth by hitting Baksh and Devin Hopkins and Randy Pitts followed with singles to load the bases. Eammon Powers walked to drive in Baksh. Brown got a ground ball out of Brendan Twomey, allowing Hopkins to score, but Aranguren bobbled the ball and the bases remained loaded. Naber came onto try to close the game. Veronee bounced into a fielder's choice, eliminating Twomey, but bringing Pitts in to score, and Stone struck out swinging. After Veronee stole second, Brennan hit a hot shot to second baseman Gabriel Casanova, who scooped up the ball, but threw wildly to first and Powers and Veronee both crossed the plate to give Tech the win.

 

Corbeil, Aranguren and Jerry Thornton each had two hits for the Bucs, who held an 11-6 lead over the Panthers. Naber had three RBI and Corbeil drove in two. No Panther had more than one hit, though Baksh drove in two.

 

Brown took the loss for Barry, despite pitching into the ninth inning. He allowed seven runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks, while striking out four in eight-plus innings. For Naber, it was his fourth blown save in eight chances. Jody Danca (2-2) was the beneficiary of the gift win. He worked two innings, allowing a run on three hits and struck out one.

 

The series concludes on Saturday, Apr. 15 with a doubleheader at noon.

 

Florida Tech 7, Barry 6 (04/14/2006 at Melbourne, Fla)

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Barry............... 013 010 001  -  6 11  2      (27-14-1, 6-7 SSC)

Florida Tech........ 002 000 005  -  7  6  1      (22-18, 7-9 SSC)

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Pitchers: Barry - Brown; Naber(9). Florida Tech - Succio; Danca(8).

Win-Danca(2-2)  Loss-Brown(5-4)  T-2:40  A-180

Brown faced 5 batters in the 9th.