Baseball Sweeps Tallahasse

"It was a good day for the team," said head coach Tim Hill II. "Anytime you can win two games on your home field against a good team make it a good day. I thought our pitchers did a good job and we swung the bats well and played good defense both games. We're looking to finish our nonconference part of our season on a positive note against Pasco next week."

Game One:

For game one, Hill II sent sophomore Landon O'Donnell to start game one while Tallahassee head coach Bryan Henry went with sophomore Harbersting Abreu to counter.

The Manatees would draw on the board first in the bottom of the first as sophomore Hayden Gustavson would send a double to left to bring in classmates CJ Richard and Allan Gil Fernandez for a 2-0 lead. One inning later, the Manatees would extend the lead further beginning with a leadoff solo home run off the bat of sophomore Mario Trivella for his third of the season. After back-to-back singles by classmates Luke Boykin and Connor O'Sullivan, before both runners advanced to scoring position on a groundout, Gil Fernandez would bring in Boykin with a sacrifice fly before O'Sullivan would score on a passed ball to make it 5-0 SCF.

The Eagles would then get on the board at the top of the third and cut the lead to 5-4 after scoring on a Manatee fielding error, an RBI single, a bases loaded walk and a hit by pitch with the bases loaded. This would send sophomore Oscar Hernandez to the mound to replace O'Donnell and finish the third.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Manatees would extend their lead after back-to-back sacrifice flies by Richard and Gil Fernandez brought in Boykin and O'Sullivan made it 7-4 SCF. One inning later, freshman Myles Davis would score on a double play before sophomore Walker Vanecek would bring in O'Sullivan with an RBI groundout before sealing the victory.

O'Donnell would earn a no-decitsion after giving up four runs on three hits with four walks and four strikeouts in two and two-thirds innings. Hernandez would improve to 2-1 after throwing four and a third scoreless innings of relief with one walk and five strikeouts.

Abreu would fall to 1-2 after giving up seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits with two strikeouts in four innings. Redshirt freshman J.D. Hay would give up two runs (one earned) on three hits with two walks and one strikeout in two innings of relief.

All nine Manatees in the starting lineup had at least one hit with four having a multi-hit game. O'Sullivan would lead the way in hitting as he went 3-for-3 with three runs and a stolen base. Gustavson (2-for-4), Boykin (2-for-3) and freshman Ryan Kaitz (2-for-3) each had two hits. Gustavson added two RBI, while Boykin added two runs.

Richard (1-for-2, one run, one RBI, one walk and one stolen base), Gil Fernandez (1-for-1, two RBI, one run and one walk), Vanecek (1-for-4, one RBI), Davis (1-for-4, one run) and Trivella (1-for-3, one home run) had the remaining five hits.

Game Two:

For game two, Hill II went with freshman Lochlan Radloff, while Henry went with sophomore Gilberto Torres-Reyes.

The Eagles would open on the scoreboard first at the top of the first after a leadoff home run by Jacob Riegel and an RBI triple by Reid Harvey, but the Manatees would respond in the bottom of the second as freshman Clayton Evans would show off his power as he hit a grand slam to left for his first collegiate home run.

The Eagles would then tie the game at 4-4 at the top of the third after a two-run home run by Harvey, but the Manatees would regain the lead after an RBI single by freshman Ben Ryan brought in Davis in the bottom half of the inning.

After the fourth inning went scoreless, the Manatees would increase their lead in the bottom of the fifth. After Davis (reached on an error), Kaitz (walk) and Ryan (walk) loaded the bases, Vanecek, who came in to pinch hit, would send a single to center to bring in Davis and Kaitz before Boykin came in to pinch run. One batter later, Evans and Richard would hit back-to-back RBI singles to bring in Ryan and Boykin to make it 9-4 before sealing the win for the sweep.

Radloff would earn a no-decision after giving up four runs on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts in three innings. Redshirt freshman Cole Dement would earn his first win of the season after throwing three scoreless innings of relief, giving up one hit with one walk and five strikeouts, while sophomore Daniel Hartley threw one scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts.

Torres-Reyes would earn the loss after giving up five runs (four earned) on four hits with five walks and one strikeout in two and a third innings.

Evans would lead the way in hitting and offense for the Manatees as he went 2-for-3 with a home run and five RBI.

"It was nice to see Clayton swing the bat well," said Hill II on Evans. "He is a good hitter and I thought he did an excellent job behind the plate."

Richard (1-for-2, one RBI, two walks and one stolen base), Davis (1-for-4, two runs), Ryan (1-for-1, one RBI, two runs and two walks), Vanecek (1-for-1, two RBI) and freshman Holden Brauner (1-for-2, one run) had one hit each.

Harvey would lead the Eagles in the second game in hitting and offense as he went 2-for-3 with three RBI.

Up Next:

The Manatees head on the road for their next non-conference game as they Pasco Her