SCF Baseball vs HCC Game One Recap

The SCF baseball team (35-16, 19-9 Suncoast) took game one of their final series of Suncoast play as they defeated Hillsborough (26-23, 17-11 Suncoast) 2-1. With the win, the Manatees are 34-16 against the Hawks.

For game one of the final series, SCF head coach Tim Hill II sent sophomore Aaron Brown to the mound while HCC head coach William Colome sent sophomore Colton Gordon to counter.

The Manatees would be the first to get on the board first in the bottom of the first. After back-to-back singles by sophomore Shane Shifflett and redshirt sophomore Brian Dillingham, classmate Bryce Hulett would send Shifflett home with a infield single to give the Manatees a 1-0 lead.

Despite the 1-0 SCF lead, it was a pitchers battle between Brown and Gordon with both exchanging strikeouts between innings until the top of the seventh when HCC got on the board when sophomore Jose Cadenas, Jr. scored on a passed ball.

With the scored tied 1-1, the Manatees were finally able to seal the deal for the win in the bottom of the ninth. After a one-out double by Shifflett, Dillingham would be the hero of the game. With an 0-1 count, the Bradenton native would send Shifflett home on an infield single to short for the win.

Brown would earn the win after throwing a complete game, giving up one run on two hits while striking out seven. The Vanderbilt and upcoming Middle Tennessee State transfer is now 8-2 on the season.

Gordon would earn the loss, putting him at 6-3 on the season after throwing 8.1 innings while giving up both runs on 12 hits with one walk and six strikeouts.

Shifflett would finish 4-for-5 with two runs scored while Dillingham and classmates Josh Crouch and Collin Moore finished 2-for-4 each.

Cadenas, Jr. would get the Hawks lone two hits as he finished 2-for-4 with one run.

Other Suncoast Scores:
#13 FSW (38-12, 19-9 Suncoast) defeated Polk State (24-27, 11-17 Suncoast) 7-3.

South Florida State (19-33, 8-20 Suncoast) defeated St. Pete (17-29, 10-18 Suncoast) 9-4.

The Manatees can claim sole possession of first place with a win and an FSW loss in one of two final games.

Suncoast Standings:
1. #13 FSW (38-12, 19-9 Suncoast)
2. SCF (35-16, 19-9 Suncoast)
3. HCC (26-23, 17-11)
4. Polk State (24-27, 11-17 Suncoast)
5. SPC (17-29, 10-18 Suncoast)
6. South Florida State (19-33, 8-20 Suncoast)

Up Next:
The Manatees will travel to Tampa to face HCC at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Monday, April 29 at 6 pm.