Baseball Walks it Off Over Pasco Hernando

Bradenton, Fla - Freshman Myles Davis' clutch single helped the SCF baseball team (4-4) secure a walk-off win at Wynn Field as they defeated Pasco Hernando State (5-3) 6-5.

"It was nice to get a win on our home field," said head coach Tim Hill II. "Pasco has a good team and every game we have played so far has been against really good opponents. I would argue that we have one of the toughest schedules in the country. While we had some really close one run losses that were tough, it was nice to be on the positive end of this one."

Hill II sent freshman Austin Monahan to the mound, while Pasco Hernando head coach Lyndon Coleman went with freshman Gavin Zassenbraker to counter.

The Bobcats would get on the board first at the top of the first as redshirt Brandon Durfee would bring in the run with an RBI groundout. As Pasco Hernando continued to keep the game 1-0 for the next two innings, the Manatees were able to pull off a big lead in the bottom of the fourth as sophomore Luke Boykin would send a three-run blast to left for his second home run of the season for a 3-1 SCF lead.

At the top of the sixth, after freshman Aidan Ray came for an inning and a third, Hill II would send sophomore Frank Villella to the mound. This would give the Bobcats a chance to get another run on the board as sophomore Anthony Cole would get hit by a pitch and bring in a run with the bases loaded. It would then signal for Hill II to bring in freshman Bernard Barnes before the Bobcats tied the game on a fielder's choice. One inning later, the Bobcats would regain the lead as sophomore Fano Cruz would hit a two-run homer to right for his first of the season and gave them a 5-3 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, Davis would cut the Bobcats' lead to 5-4 after hitting an RBI single to bring in sophomore Hayden Gustavson.

After the eighth went scoreless, the Manatees would pull together a rally in the bottom of the ninth. After Gustavson and sophomore Allan Gil Fernandez drew walks before freshman Will Rawls came to pinch run for Gil Fernandez and moved to scoring position on two wild pitches, sophomore Walker Vanecek would then ground out to the pitcher while moving Gustavson to second. All eyes turned towards Davis on a 2-1 count as the native of Marion, Iowa would send a single to center to bring in Rawls and Gustavson to seal the victory for the Manatees.

"Myles had a great game and delivered when we needed him to," said Hill II on Davis.

Both Monahan and Zassenbraker earned a no-decision for their starts. Monhan gave up one run on three hits with two walks in four innings, while Zassenbraker threw two and a third scoreless innings with three hits and one strikeouts.

Freshman Ben Ryan would earn the win after throwing two scoreless innings of relief with one walk and one strikeout. Ray gave up two runs on one hit with two walks and three strikeouts in one and a third innings of relief, while Barnes gave up two runs on one hit with two walks and two strikeouts in one and two-thirds innings.

Sophomore Steven Rojas would be dubbed with a loss and a blown save after giving up two runs on one hit with two walks in a third of an inning.

Davis would lead the way in hitting and offense as he went 3-for-5 with one run, three RBI and one stolen base, while freshman Ryan Kaitz rounded out the order going 2-for-3 with one run and one walk.

Boykin (1-for-4, home run and three RBI), Gustavson (1-for-3, two runs and two walks), sophomore Mario Trivella (1-for-4) and freshman Dominic Donatucci (1-for-2, one walk) had the remaining four hits for the Manatees.

Cruz lead the way in hitting for the Bobcats as he went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI.

Up Next:

The Manatees will look to keep their winning ways alive at home as they welcome Tallahassee State College (3-4) for a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, February 8 at 12 and 3 pm.