MELBOURNE, Florida - A bad sixth inning spelled doom for the Embry-Riddle baseball team on Saturday afternoon as Florida Tech claimed the series with a 9-2 win over the Eagles. All seven runs that scored in the Panther (18-10, 7-4 SSC) sixth came with two outs and were unearned, while ERAU (12-14, 2-9 SSC) pitchers issued 11 free passes to FT hitters.

Connor Dunnam took the ball for the Eagles and was great on the bump through the first five frames, rarely allowing a Panther to reach, and only twice allowing a runner to reach scoring position.

ERAU scored in the fourth when Alex Britton singled in Garrett Bogart from second after Bogart doubled with two outs in the inning. However, that's all the Eagle offense could muster, and the Panthers did finally got to Dunnam in the sixth with the help of a crucial Eagle error.

Dunnam got two outs in the home-half of the sixth, but a walk that loaded the bags chased him from the game, and the next play, with Casey Keller on the mound, would be the Eagles' undoing. A ground ball to second was fielded cleanly and thrown to second for the force there, however the throw was dropped and a run scored to tie the game and keep the bases loaded. The Panthers then drew back-to-back bases-loaded walks, followed by a two-RBI single to go up 5-1. Another walk loaded the bases again, bringing in Gunnar Harrison for ERAU, but the free passes continued and by the time Harrison was able to get the final out, the Panthers led 7-1.

Florida Tech added two runs in the seventh to go up 9-1 before Bogart doubled in the second Eagle run of the day in the eighth, accounting for the 9-2 final.

Bogart finished 3-for-4 with two doubles. Dunnam (1-4) pitched 5.2 innings, allowing three unearned runs on just five hits with seven Ks.

ERAU and Florida Tech finish up their weekend series tomorrow, Sunday, March 26 at 2 p.m. in Melbourne.