Head coach Tim Hill II sent sophomore Ryan Stefiuk to start the game while FSW head coach Zac Cole went with redshirt sophomore Yehoshua Garcia to counter.

 

The Buccaneers would be the ones to strike first on the scoreboard as sophomore Derek William would hit an RBI for the first run.

 

After three innings on the mound, Hill II would pull Stefiuk and send freshman Michael Forret to the mound at the top of the fourth. Forret would continue to pound the zone for the next two innings.

 

In the bottom of the fifth, the Manatees would finally get on the board and take the lead. After freshman Jayce Blalock drew a one-out walk, sophomore Richie Morales hit a double and sophomore Kevin Karstetter drew a walk to load the bases, classmate Lucas Ismaili would draw a walk and bring in Blalock for the Manatees first run of the game. Sophomore Mario Lopez, Jr would then draw a bases loaded walk and bring in Morales for a Manatees lead. Classmate Brayden Woodburn would then drive a bases-loaded two-run single to center to bring in Karstetter and Ismaili before sophomore Victor Sanchez brought in Lopez with a single to make it 5-1 SCF.

 

The Buccaneers would put one more run on the board as sophomore AJ Shaver would hit his 11th home run of the season with a leadoff shot to center, but it was all they could produce as the Manatees secured the win.

 

Stefiuk would get a no-decision after giving up one run on three hits with two strikeouts in three innings. Forret would improve to 7-2 after throwing two scoreless innings of relief, giving up one hit with five strikeouts.

 

Sophomore Ben Gilbert would secure his second save of the season after giving up one hit with one walk and one strikeout in one scoreless inning of relief.

 

Sophomore Connor Hults gave up one run on two hits with two strikeouts in one inning of relief, while freshman Ed Wagner threw two scoreless inning of relief, giving up one hit with three walks and two strikeouts.

 

Morales would lead the way in hitting as he went 2-for-4 with a run and a stolen base, while Woodburn was the overall leader in offense as he went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a walk.

 

Lopez (1-for-2, one RBI, one walk and one run) and Sanchez (1-for-4, one RBI) had the remaining two hits, while Karstetter (one run and one walk), Ismaili (one run, one RBI and two walks) and Blalock (one run and one walk) also contributed.

 

For the Buccaneers, sophomore Albert Serrano and Anthony Westbrook each had two hits.

 

Notes:

With his one walk, Woodburn now has 39 this season and 79 in his career. He needs 21 to surpass Jody Reed (59, 1981-82) and 31 to surpass Joey Collis (109, 1994-95) for the career record.

 

Other Suncoast Scores:

Polk State (24-16, 7-5 Suncoast) defeated Florida Southern College JV (4-14) 13-3 in seven innings. The Eagles will resume Suncoast Conference play against Hillsborough.

 

Up Next:

The Manatees will head on the road for non-conference play as they face the University of Tampa JV (9-13) Tuesday night, April 4 at 6 pm.