Fort Pierce, Fla - The SCF baseball team (23-17, 11-11 Citrus) were able to open their next series in success as they defeated RV Indian River State (28-9, 16-6 Citrus) 6-4 at the Massey Campus Baseball Field in Fort Pierce.

"I thought Brandon (Clarke) threw very well as well as Indian River's starter," said head coach Tim Hill II. "Pip (Smalley) had some big hits that really helped us after a slow start. We look forward to playing them on our home field Saturday."

Hill II sent sophomore Brandon Clarke (5-2, 4.65 ERA) to the mound, while Indian River State head coach Frank Torre Jr. went with sophomore Angelo Smith (3-2, 6.14 ERA) to counter.

After the first two innings went scoreless, the Manatees would get on the board at the top of the third as freshman Allan Gil-Fernandez would send a single to left to bring in sophomore Jalen Hairston for a 1-0 SCF lead. The Pioneers would then tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth after an RBI groundout by freshman Maikol Lucena.

After the next two innings went scoreless, the Manatees would regain the lead at the top of the seventh. After sophomores Luis Garrido and Jayce Blalock drew back-to-back walks and Torre Jr sending freshman Christopher Knier to the mound for relief, freshman Mario Trivella would ground into a fielder's choice before reaching first and advancing to second on a throwing error while Garrido scored. After Hairtston was hit by a pitch, freshman Pip Smalley would send a single to center and bring in Trivella to make it 3-1 SCF. In the bottom of the seventh, the Pioneers would eventually take a 4-3 lead after a two-run triple by sophomore Daniel Baez and a sacrifice fly by sophomore Matthew Rubun. 

The Manatees would then tie the game at 4-4 after an RBI single by Blalock drove in sophomore Santiago Ordonez. In the bottom half of the inning, the Pioneers would load the bases and looked to try and take the lead, but a popout to Smalley would end the Pioneers chances of doing so.

At the top of the ninth, the Manatees would push one last time to take the lead. After a leadoff single by sophomore Erick Almonte and a double by Hairston, Smalley would do his part on the first pitch and send a single to center to bring in Almonte and Hairston to make it 6-4 SCF. From there, the Manatees were able to seal the victory and take the first game.

Clarke and Smith would both earn no-decisions Clarke gave up one run on four hits with three walks and eight strikeouts in six innings of work while Smith gave up three runs on three hits with four walks and eight strikeouts in six innings.

Freshman Daniel Hartley would earn the win and improve to 1-2 after giving up three runs on three hits with four walks and two strikeouts in three innings of relief.

Redshirt Samuel Beir would fall to 2-2 after giving up two runs on three hits with one strikeouts in one innings of relief.

Three Manatees had a multi-hit game. It was Smalley that would lead the way offensively as he finished 2-for-5 with three RBI. Gil-Fernandez would finish 2-for-5 with an RBI, while Hairston rounded out the order going 2-for-4 with a run.

Almonte (1-for-4, two runs and one walk), Ordonez (1-for-5, one run), Blalock (1-for-1, one RBI and one walk) and freshman Walker Vanecek (1-for-4) had the remaining four hits, while Garrido (one run and one walk) and Trivella (one run and one walk) also contributed in the game.

For the Pioneers, Baez lead the way in hitting and offense as he finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and run at the plate.

Other Citrus Conference Scores:

Central Florida (23-16, 11-11 Citrus) 10, Hillsborough (21-20, 9-13 Citrus) 5

RV Florida Southwestern (27-13, 17-5 Citrus) 16, Santa Fe (22-16, 12-10 Citrus) 10

St. Pete (15-22, 8-14 Citrus) 2, Seminole State College of Florida (18-22, 6-16 Citrus) 1

Miami Dade (21-18, 14-8 Citrus) 2, Daytona State (13-21, 5-17 Citrus) 1

Polk State (26-17, 13-9 Citrus) 13, Eastern Florida State (19-19-1, 10-12 Citrus) 5

Citrus Conference Standings:

1. RV Florida Southwestern (27-13, 17-5)

2. RV Indian River State (28-9, 16-6)

3. Miami Dade (21-18, 14-8)

4. Polk State (26-17, 13-9)

5. Santa Fe (22-16, 12-10)

6. Central Florida (23-16, 11-11)

7. SCF (23-17, 11-11)

8. Eastern Florida State (19-19-1, 10-12)

9. Hillsborough (21-20, 9-13)

10. St. Pete (15-22, 8-14)

11. Seminole State College of Florida (18-22, 6-16)

12. Daytona State (13-21, 5-17)

Up Next:

The Manatees will continue their series at Robert C. Wynn Field Saturday afternoon, April 6 at 12 and 4 pm. Freshman Palmer O'Beirne (5-1, 6.21 ERA) will be given the nod to start the first game, while game two's starter will be a game-time decision.