Posted: Mar 03, 2023
By Pat Clines
Sanford, Fla - The SCF baseball team (10-17) pulled away with their second sweep of the season as they defeated Seminole State College of Florida (14-8) 11-3 at Jack Pantelias Field.
Head coach Tim Hill II sent freshman Ed Wagner to the mound, while Seminole State head coach Mike Nicholson went with redshirt sophomore Blake D'Arville to counter.
In the bottom of the first, the Raiders would open on the scoreboard first after a two-run homer by sophomore Kishon Frett for his seventh of the season. At the top of the second, the Manatees would awaken from a long slumber and went on an offensive slaughter of seven runs, thanks to power from sophomore Ben Gilbert as he hit his second home run of the season before freshman LT Cockrill hit an RBI double to bring in classmate Jalen Hairston. Freshman Erick Almonte would then bring in two runs on a triple before sophomore Kevin Karstetter would hit an RBI double to make it 7-2 SCF. The Manatees would add to their lead in the sixth, eighth and ninth inning before they sealed the deal with the win.
Wagner would get his third win of the season after giving up three runs on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts in six innings. Sophomore Ryan Stefiuk earned his first save of the season after throwing three scoreless innings of relief with one walk and four strikeouts.
D'Arville would fall to 1-2 after giving up eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits with two walks and five strikeouts in six innings. Freshman Ty Greene gave up three runs on four hits with two walks and one strikeout in three innings of relief.
Eight players had at least one hit or reached base with four getting two or more hits. Hairston would be the overall leader in hits as he went 4-for-5 with two runs and a stolen base. Karstetter, Gilbert and Cockrill each had two hits. Karstetter (2-for-6) added one RBI, one run and one stolen base, Gilbert (2-for-5) had three RBI and Cockrill (2-for-5) had one RBI and one run.
Aside from Gilbert, Almonte also lead the way in RBI as he went 1-for-5 with three RBI and a run, while sophomore Lucas Ismaili went 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBI, two runs and a walk.
Sophomores Mario Lopez, Jr. (1-for-3, one RBI, one run and one walk) and Austin Dearing (1-for-5, one run) had the remaining two hits, while classmate Brayden Woodburn (two walks and a run) also contributed in the game.
For the Raiders, redshirt freshman Jason Ambos lead the way in hitting as he went 2-for-3 with two runs. Frett was the only Raider with a multi-RBI game as he went 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI.
Notes:
The two walks for Woodburn were his 35th and 36th this season and his 84th and 85th for his career (including being hit by pitch). He needs 24 to break the single season record, held by Jody Reed (59:1981-82) and the career record held by Joey Collis (109: 1994-95).
Other Suncoast Scores:
Hillsborough (6-16) fell to Indian River State (14-6) 11-8. The Hawks will take on Florida Southwestern (14-9) Monday afternoon, March 6 at 2:30 pm.
Polk State (13-11) fell to Florida Southwestern State 13-6. The Eagles will take on TNXL Academy Monday night, March 6 at 5 pm.
St. Pete (5-14) defeated University of Tampa JV (3-6) 10-6. The Titans will take on Inspiration Academy Tuesday afternoon, March 7 at 3 pm.
Suncoast Conference Standings:
1. Polk State (13-11)
2. SCF (10-17)
3. Hillsborough (6-16)
4. St. Pete (5-14)
Up Next:
The Manatees will return home to the Wynn Field as they welcome the postgraduate team from IMG Academy before opening Suncoast Conference play against St. Pete.