By Pat Clines

Tampa, Fla - The SCF baseball team (24-19, 10-2 Suncoast) completed their second non-conference sweep as they defeated the University of Tampa JV team (10-14) 11-3. It was the Manatees fourth win over the Spartans this season.

Head coach Tim Hill II sent freshman Liam Best to the mound, while Tampa JV head coach Mark Johnson went with freshman Hayden Givens-Craig.

After the first inning went scoreless, the Manatees would strike first at the top of the second as sophomores Liam Moreno and Victor Sanchez committed a double steal before Sanchez scored on a throwing error. One inning later, sophomore Brayden Woodburn would send a single to center to bring in classmate Richie Morales to make it 2-0 SCF.

At the top of the fourth, the Manatees extended the lead further beginning with a leadoff walk by sophomore Austin Dearing before he stole second. After Moreno hit a single and moved Dearing to third, Dearing would score on a wild pitch before freshman Jalen Hairston drew a walk before stealing second. Freshman Evan Mastromauro would then hit a sacrifice fly and bring in Moreno before Morales made it a 5-0 SCF game with a bunt single while Hairston scored on a throwing error. Sophomore Kevin Karstetter would then send a double to left to bring in Morales to make 6-0 SCF.

At the top of the fifth, the Manatees would continue to add more runs to the board. After a one-out double by Dearing, he would then score as Moreno reached second on a fielding error. Hairston would then draw a walk before Mastromauro hit a single to center to bring in Moreno for an 8-0 SCF lead. One inning later, sophomore Lucas Ismaili would hit an infield single and bring in Karstetter for a 9-0 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Spartans would respond as senior David Robins would hit a solo home run to left for his first home run of the season. The Manatees responded at the top of the seventh. After a leadoff double by Moreno and Hairston drawing a walk, Hairston would steal second while Moreno scored on a wild pitch. After Mastromauro drew a walk, Morales would bring in Hairston with a sacrifice fly to make it 11-1 SCF.

The Spartans would add their final runs on the boards in the bottom of the seventh after RBI doubles by freshman Jaden Malave and junior Trey VanWinkle, but it would be all they could muster as the Manatees sealed the win.

Best would earn a no-decision after throwing two scoreless innings, giving up one hit with two walks and three strikeouts.

Sophomore Nick Romagnola would earn his first win of the season after throwing two scoreless innings with one hit and two walks.

Givens-Craig would get hit with the loss after giving up six runs (four earned) on four hits with three walks and one strikeout in three and two-thirds innings.

Karstetter (2-for-5), Dearing (2-for-4) and Moreno (2-for-3) each had two hits apiece. Karstetter added one RBI, one run and one stolen base, Dearing added two runs, a walk and a stolen base and Moreno added three runs, one walk and two stolen bases.

Mastromauro lead the way in RBI as he went 1-for-2 with two RBI and one walk. He also threw two innings of relief, giving up three runs on five hits with one strikeout.

Morales (1-for-3, one RBI, one run, one walk and two stolen bases; one inning of relief with two strikeouts), Woodburn (1-for-5, one RBI), Ismaili (1-for-5, one RBI) and Sanchez (1-for-4, one run and a stolen base) had the remaining hits for the Manatees, while Hairston (three walks, two runs and two stolen bases), sophomore Cameron Clines (one inning of relief with one strikeout) and freshman Brendan Albrittain (one inning of relief) also contributed in the game.

For the Spartans, senior Michael Scali lead the way in hitting as he went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Notes:

Karstetter's one RBI puts him at 145 and has tied Al Corbeil (145, 1998-99) for most career RBI. His two hits put him at 205 in his career.

Other Suncoast Scores:

Polk State (25-16, 7-5 Suncoast) defeated Warner University JV 10-1.

Suncoast Conference Standings:

1. SCF (24-19, 10-2)

2. Polk State (25-16, 7-5)

3. St. Pete (13-21, 5-7)

4. Hillsborough (8-30, 2-10)

Up Next:

The Manatees will resume Suncoast Conference play as they will face St. Pete College for the second half of conference