By Pat Clines

Tampa, Fla - The SCF baseball team (17-18, 6-1 Suncoast) continued their fight in Suncoast Conference play as they came from behind and defeated Hillsborough (5-26, 0-7 Suncoast) 8-6 at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. With the win, the Manatees are now 46-23 against the Hawks.

"It was a good win for us today," said head coach Tim Hill II. "The six run ninth inning was quite remarkable for the guys and I'm very proud of them for stepping up and ready to play."

Hill II sent sophomore Ryan Stefiuk to the mound, while HCC head coach Raydon Leaton went with freshman Mason Tinsley.

For the first three innings, it was a pitcher's duel between Stefiuk and Tinsley, but by the fourth inning Stefiuk would buckle first as he gave up the first runs of the game after an RBI groundout, a two-run double, two runs on a fielding error and an RBI single made it 6-0 HCC.

At the top of the fifth, the Manatees would gain their first run on the board as sophomore Richie Morales would hit an RBI single and bring in classmate Ben Gilbert to make it 6-1 still in HCC's favor. At the top of the sixth, Karstetter would show power as he hit a solo homer for his eighth of the season to make it 6-2 still with the Hawks.

After the sixth inning, Stefiuk would get one more out after giving up a single in the bottom of the seventh before Hill pulled him and sent freshman Liam Best to the mound to get the remaining two outs. Hill would then put in sophomore Connor Hults in the bottom of the eighth and would get out with ease.

At the top of the ninth, the Manatees would rally together a big inning for themselves. After sophomores Lucas Ismaili, Mario Lopez, Jr. and Brayden Woodburn hit three straight singles to load the bases, classmate Victor Sanchez would cut the Hawks lead shorter with a two-run single to bring in Ismaili and Lopez before Gilbert was hit by a pitch to reload the bases. This signaled the end for Tinsley as Leaton would send freshman Matthew Gill to the mound. Freshman Jayce Blalock would be one of the turning points for the Manatees as he hit a two-run single to bring in Woodburn and Sanchez and tie the game at 6-6. After Morales reloaded the bases for the Manatees again with a single, freshman Erick Almonte would give the Manatees their first lead of the game as he drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in  Gilbert before Karstetter hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Blalock for an insurance run.

Gilbert would then come to pitch for a save opportunity and despite giving up two hits, the former Ole Miss Rebel was able to get the final out and give the Manatees the series lead.

Stefiuk and Tinsley would both earn no-decisions. Stefiuk would give up six runs (four earned) on eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts in six and a third, while Tinsley gave up four runs on 10 hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in eight innings.

Hults would earn his first collegiate win after throwing one scoreless inning of relief with one strikeout. 

Gilbert would earn his first save of the season after throwing a scoreless inning of relief, giving up two hits with two strikeouts. He was also 1-for-2 at the plate with two runs and a walk.

Gill would get hit with the loss after giving up two runs on two hits with two walks and one strikeout in one inning of relief. He is now 0-1 on the year.

All nine players on the Manatees had at least one hit with three getting two or more. Karstetter would lead the way as he finished 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Woodburn would follow batting 2-for-5 with a run and a stolen base, while Morales rounded out the order 2-for-5 with an RBI.

Alongside Karstetter, Blalock and Sanchez was also a leader in offense as they both finished 1-for-4 with two RBI and a run each with Sanchez adding a walk. Almonte (1-for-4, one RBI and one walk), Ismaili (1-for-4, one run and one walk) and Lopez (1-for-4, one run) had the remaining three hits.

No one on the Hawks had a multi-hit game, but sophomore Jackson Hugus was the overall offensive leader as he went 1-for-4 with two RBI.

Notes:

The two hits for Karstetter put him at 188 in his career. Additionally, the hits extend his hitting streak to 25 games. He need to hit in two straight to break the record held by Tom McKay (26, 1967). Furthermore, the two RBI put him at 132 in his career and needs 14 RBI to break the career RBI record held by Al Corbeil (145, 1998-99).

Other Suncoast Scores:

Polk State (21-12, 6-1 Suncoast) defeated St. Pete (8-19, 2-5 Suncoast) 3-2 in Winter Haven.

Suncoast Standings:

1. Polk State (21-12, 6-1)

2. SCF (17-18, 6-1)

3. St. Pete (8-19, 2-5)

4. Hillsborough (5-26, 0-7)

Up Next:

The Manatees look to complete the sweep as game four returns to Wynn Field Wednesday night, March 22 at 6 pm. Freshman Jeremy Weaver (2-1, 3.86 ERA) is expected to be given the nod to start for the Manatees on the mound.