Game One:

Head coach Tim Hill II sent sophomore Ed Wagner (1-1, 4.85 ERA) to start game one of the doubleheader, while Seminole head coach Mike Nicholson went with redshirt sophomore Garret Brewer (1-1, 4.35 ERA) to counter.

 

After the first inning went scoreless, the Manatees would open on the scoreboard first at the top of the second as freshman Luke Boykin would bring in classmate Walker Vanecek with a two-run homer to left for his first collegiate home run. In the bottom half of the inning, the Raiders would cut the lead to 2-1 after an RBI triple by sophomore Johnny DiBenedetto.

 

Two scoreless innings later, the Manatees would add the final run of the game as freshman Allan Gil-Fernandez would send sophomore LT Cockrill home with a sacrifice fly to right to make it 3-1 SCF. From there, Wagner was able to remain at ease as the Manatees' defense backed him up to get their first win in Citrus Conference play.

 

Wagner would improve to 2-1 after throwing a seven inning complete game, giving up one run on three hits with one walk and eight strikeouts.

 

Brewer would fall to 1-2 after giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits with one walk and four strikeouts in three and a third innings. Redshirt sophomore Connor Hensley would give up one unearned run on one hit with one walk and five strikeouts in three and two-thirds innings of relief.

 

Boykin lead the way offensively as he went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Cockrill (1-for-3, one run) and sophomore Jalen Hairston (1-for-2, one walk and one stolen base) had the remaining two hits, while Gil-Fernandez (one RBI), Vanecek (one run scored) and freshman Hayden Gustavson (one walk) also contributed in the game.

 

DiBenedetto and sophomores Jacob Green and Jhoander Irogoyen each had one of the Raiders' three hits with DiBenedetto having the only RBI in the game.

 

Game Three:

To go for the series win, Hill II sent sophomore Liam Best (1-1, 5.89 ERA) to the mound, while Nicholson went with freshman Carter Krawchuck (1-0, 1.93 ERA).

 

The Manatees would open on the board first at the top of the first as Gil-Fernandez would bring in sophomore Luis Garrido with an RBI. They would hold the lead until the bottom of the third when the Raiders scored four runs in the inning.

 

At the top of the fourth, the Manatees would cut the lead to 4-3 after an RBI double by Gustavson and an RBI single by Boykin, but it was they could produce as the Raiders continued to add to their lead in the fifth and sixth innings before they sealed the win and series.

 

Best would fall to 1-2 after giving up four runs on four hits with three walks and one strikeout in two innings. Freshman Palmer O'Beirne would give up five runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in three and two-thirds innings of relief, while sophomore Bryan Gomez would give up two runs on two hits with one walk in one-third of an inning.

 

Krawchuk would improve to 2-0 after throwing a seven inning complete game, giving up three runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

 

Garrido (1-for-4, one run), Hairston (1-for-4), Gil-Fernandez (1-for-3, one RBI), Gustavson (1-for-3, one RBI), Boykin (1-for-2, one RBI, one walk and one stolen base) and sophomore Santiago Ordonez (1-for-3, one run) each had one of the Manatees six hits.

 

Irogoyen lead the way in hitting as he went 3-for-3 with two RBI and three runs.

 

Other Citrus Scores:

Hillsborough (11-4, 3-0 Citrus) defeated Eastern Florida State (7-7-1, 0-3 Citrus) 4-2 and 6-1 to sweep the series.

 

Santa Fe (11-4, 2-1 Citrus) swept Polk State (9-9, 1-2 Citrus) 6-1 and 8-1 in their doubleheader to secure their first series.

 

Indian River State (10-3, 3-0 Citrus) swept Daytona State (6-7, 0-3 Citrus) 6-4 and 10-0.

 

Miami Dade (8-7, 1-1 Citrus) defeated Central Florida (8-4, 1-1 Citrus) 6-1.

 

Citrus Conference Standings:

1. Indian River State (10-3, 3-0)

2. Hillsborough (11-4, 3-0)

3. Florida Southwestern (8-5, 1-0)

4. Santa Fe (11-4, 2-1)

5. Seminole State College of Florida (9-4, 2-1)

6. Central Florida (8-4, 1-1)

7. Miami Dade (8-7, 1-1)

8. SCF (9-5, 1-2)

9. Polk State (9-9, 1-2)

10. St. Pete (5-6, 0-1)

11. Eastern Florida State (7-7-1, 0-3)

12. Daytona State (6-7, 0-3)

 

Up Next:

The Manatees will return home for a quick breather from conference as they welcome the University of Tampa JV team to Robert C. Wynn Field Tuesday evening, February 20 at 6 pm before their series with Polk State (9-9, 1-2 Citrus) Thursday and Friday, February 22-23.