"This has been a big struggle for this group this season," said head coach Tim Hill II. "We really shot ourselves in the foot today. The first game was disappointing, but I thought Ed (Wagner) threw well enough to try and get the win and we left a lot of runners on base, while they (Central Florida) got the big hit. After that, we jumped out with a 7-0 lead in the second game before it was a two-run lead heading into the ninth where we couldn't close it out, but the guys didn't quit and were able to avoid the sweep. Credit to them for not giving up."

 

"Honestly, the hitting did really well overall in both games despite coming up short in the first game," said sophomore Erick Almonte. "Winning the second game was the one that mattered and we didn't get swept."

 

"I felt like we hit really well," said sophomore Jayce Blalock. "While we were slacking in other places, we got the dub in the end thanks to Erick (Almonte) at the end of the day."

 

"I thought most of the guys were not down because we lost the series to the defending national champions, but we wanted to make a statement in the second game" said freshman Gavyn Bowen. "That was the biggest thing for us to get the last game and avoid a sweep to start on a new page."

 

Game One:

Hill II sent sophomore Ed Wagner (2-5, 6.40 ERA) to start game one, while CF head coach Marty Smith went with sophomore Sebastian Perez (2-5, 4.40 ERA).

 

After the first two innings went scoreless, the Manatees would get on the board in the bottom of the third beginning with a leadoff double by sophomore LT Cockrill before scoring on a wild pitch. Two batters later, freshman Pip Smalley would send a single down the middle before classmate Allan Gil-Fernandez would then send a double to left to bring in Smalley and make it 2-0 SCF before being called out trying to stretch the double into a triple.

 

At the top of the fifth, the Patriots would gain steam and take a 4-2 lead after RBI doubles by sophomore Kainen Jorge, Gunnett Carlson and Kareh Valentine and an RBI groundout by classmate Edwin Toribio before they made it 5-2 after a bases-loaded walk by Jorge and taking the first game.

 

Wagner would fall to 2-6 after giving up five runs (three earned) on six hits with two walks an three strikeouts in five innings. Freshman Dylan DeLeo threw a third of a scoreless inning of relief with one walk, while classmate Ryan Slattery threw one and two-thirds scoreless innings of relief with two walks and four strikeouts.

 

Perez would improve to 3-5 after giving up two runs on four hits with one walk and three strikeouts in four and two-thirds innings. Sophomore Cortland Clarke would earn his first save after throwing two and a third innings of relief with two hits, one walk and two strikeouts.

 

Blalock would lead the way in hitting as he went 2-for-2 at the plate. Smalley (1-for-4, one run), Gil-Fernandez (1-for-4, one RBI), Cockrill (1-for-3, one run) and sophomore Santiago Ordonez (1-for-3) had the remaining four hits.

 

Valentine would lead the way in hitting for the Patriots as he went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run.

 

Game Two:

Looking to avoid being swept, Hill II sent freshman Palmer O'Beirne (5-1, 4.66 ERA) while Smitth went with sophomore James Hill (2-1, 6.00 ERA) to counter.

 

In the bottom of the first, the Manatees would open on the scoreboard first as Smalley would score on a wild pitch. One inning later, the Manatees would increase their lead further beginning with freshman Hayden Gustavon being hit by a pitch before Blalock sent a double to left to bring in Gustavson. Sophomore Luis Garrido would then hit a bunt single to bring in Blalock and then advance to third on a fielding error. After freshman Daniel Hartley drew a walk, Smalley would send Garrido home with a sacrifice fly to center. After Gil-Fernandez drew a walk, Ordonez would chop a hard ground ball single near third base and advanced to second on another fielding error while Hartley scored. Freshman Walker Vanecek would then send a ground rule double to right-center to bring in Gil-Fernandez and Ordonez and make it 7-0 SCF.

 

The Patriots would then get their first on the board at the top of the third as Carlson would send a three-run homer to right-center for his ninth of the season before Toribio would follow with a solo home run of his own for his 10th of the season.

 

In the bottom of the fourth, the Manatees would add another set of run begining with a leadoff double by Almonte before Smalley sent a single to center to drive him in. After Ordonez hit a single of his own, Vanecek would single to center and bring in Smalley before advancing to second on the throw. Gustavson would then make it 10-4 as he sent a single to right to bring in Ordonez.

 

The Patriots would continue to put pressure on the O'Beirne after an RBI single by freshman Anthony Diaz and a bases-loaded walk by sophomore Michael Guilliams. The would signal the end for O'Beirne as Hill II would send freshman Aidan McBride to the mound. The Patriots would cut the lead to 10-9 after a sacrifice fly by freshman Marcus Bradshaw and an RBI single by Jorge. After two more walks, McBride was able to get out of the fifth.

 

The next three would be scoreless with McBride keeping control. In the bottom of the eighth, the Manatees would try to add an insurance run as Almonte would hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Gustavson and make it 11-9 SCF.

 

At the top of the ninth, the Patriots started to buckle McBride. After the first two batters reached base before the third struck out, the Patriots would load the bases before Valentine would send a single to left to bring in two. After an intentional walk, Hill would then send sophomore Preston Wetherell to try and work out of the inning, but a hit by a pitch and a two-run double would pull Wetherell and send Bowen in. After a sacrifice made it 15-11 CF, the Wisconsin native was able to end the top of the ninth.

 

In the bottom of the ninth, the Manatees would put together a rally to go for a walkoff win beginning with leadoff double by Gil-Fernandez. After a single by Ordonez, Vanecek would send a single to left and bring in Gil-Fernandez. Gustavson would fly out, but helped Ordonez tag up and move to third. After Blalock drew a walk to load the bases, Smith would send sophomore Isaac Sewell to go for the save. 

 

Follow the pitching change, Garrido, who reached first on two successful bunts, would send a single to center and bring in Ordonez. After Hartley struck out for the second out, all eyes turned towards Almonte on an 0-2 count. With one final push of momentum, Almonte would send a double to right-center and bring in Vanecek and Blalock to tie the game, but with Garrido's speed, Hill II would take the risk and send him home in success to win the game and seal the victory.

 

"Honestly, I was thinking about Luis (Garrido) scoring," said Almonte on the game-winning hit. "I knew there was a gap shot where I could at least tie the game up and it worked out."

 

" When Erick hit the ball towards the gap, I thought 'we at least tied up the game' until I realized I had Luis (Garrido) at first and he can really run," said Hill II on Almonte's winning hit. "Once the ball went there, I thought we had a chance to win it and he scored easily. The team really needed that."

 

O'Beirne and Hill would both earn no-decisions in their starts. O'Beirne would give up nine runs (eight earned) on six hits with five walks and six strikeouts in four and a third innings, while Hill gave up seven runs (three earned) on seven hits with one walk and two strukeouts in three innings.

 

Bowen would earn his first collegiate win after throwing two-thirds of a scoreless innings of relief.

 

"I was trying to throw strikes and that was the biggest thing," said Bowen. "If they hit what I'm throwing and it's in the zone, then I tip my cap to them, but I was trying to live in the zone while also doing my part."

 

Sewell would fall to 2-1 with a blown save after giving up one run on two hits with one strikeout in one-third of an inning of relief.

 

The Manatees had 22 hits in the game with all nine Manatees in the starting lineup having at least one hit and six having multiple hits. It was Ordonez and Vanecek that lead the way in hitting as they each had four hits. Ordonez (4-for-6) added one RBI and three runs, while Vanecek (4-for-6) added four RBI and one run.

 

Almonte also lead the offense with Vanecek as he went 3-for-6 with four RBI and one run. Smalley (3-for-4) and Garrido (3-for-6) each three hits, two RBI and two runs. 

 

"I was just putting some confidence on myself," said Alomonte. "I know I'm a good baseball player and I just got to keep that confidence up and do what I do every time."

 

Gustavson rounded out the order batting 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs, while Gil-Fernandez (1-for-4, two runs and one walk), Hartley (1-for-5, one) and Blalock (1-for-4, one RBI, two runs and two walks) had the remaining three hits. Blalock finished 3-for-6 with an RBI in both games combined. McBride also contributed in the game as he threw four innings of relief with three strikeouts.

 

"I felt a lot more confident at the plate lately," said Blalock. "I was sitting on some pitches that I was unable to take on, but today my two-strike approach worked today. I was working on it earlier and it paid off in the end with a couple hits."

 

For the Patriots, Diaz lead the way in hitting and RBI as he went 3-for-4 with three RBI. Carlson followed going 2-for-5 with three RBI of his own.

 

Other Citrus Conference Scores:

Florida Southwestern (24-14, 15-6 Citrus) swept their doubleheader against Daytona State (13-20, 5-16 Citrus) by scores of 4-2 and 10-9.

 

Santa Fe (21-15, 12-9 Citrus) swept their doubleheader over Seminole State College (20-18, 9-12 Citrus) 7-1 and 6-3.

 

RV Indian River State (26-10, 14-7 Citrus) swept their doubleheader over Polk State (24-17, 12-9 Citrus) 8-2 and 5-2.

 

Eastern Florida State (19-17-1, 10-11 Citrus) swept their doubleheader over St. Pete College (14-21, 7-14 Citrus) 10-0 (5) and 4-1.

 

Miami Dade (20-18, 13-8 Citrus) split their doubleheader with Hillsborough (21-18, 9-12 Citrus) winning game one 6-1 before losing game two 6-2.

 

Citrus Conference Standings:

1. Florida Southwestern (24-14, 15-6)

2. RV Indian River State (26-10, 14-7)

3. Miami Dade (20-18, 13-8)

4. Polk State (24-17, 12-9)

5. Santa Fe (21-15, 12-9)

6. Central Florida (21-16, 10-11)

7. SCF (21-17, 10-11)

8. Eastern Florida State (19-17-1, 10-11)

9. Hillsborough (21-18, 9-12)

10. Seminole State College (20-18, 9-12)

11. St. Pete (14-21, 7-14)

12. Daytona State (13-20, 5-16)

 

Up Next:

The Manatees will play their next midweek on the road as they travel to Avon Park to take on South Florida State (19-18, 8-9 Sun Lakes) at Panthers Field Tuesday night, April 2 at 6 pm before playing Indian River State for their next Citrus Conference series Thursday, April 4 and Saturday, April 6.