SCF Baseball Takes Down Tallahassee

The SCF baseball team (6-6) were finally able to get at even as they defeated Tallahassee CC (7-5) 9-4. With the win, the Manatees are now 16-5 (2012-present) against the Eagles.

Head coach Tim Hill II sent sophomore Cole Ayers to the mound for the start, while TCC head coach Mike McLeod sent sophomore Tanner Martin to counter.

After the first two innings went in no ones favor, the Manatees would get on the board first at the top of the third after sophomore Rook Ellington sent freshman Richard Rodriguez home with an RBI single, but soon the Eagles would take the lead in the bottom of the fourth after freshman Stan King scored on a fielding error and classmate Bryson Kirksey hit an RBI single.

At the top of the fifth, freshman Richard Rodriguez would tie the game at 2-2 with an RBI single to send sophomore Remi Patry. The Manatees would then take the lead at the top of the fifth thanks to Patry as the Quebecois native hit a two-RBI single to send freshmen Owen Ayers and Steve Nitch home for a 4-2 SCF lead.

At the top of the seventh, Owen Ayers would hit an RBI single to send sophomore AJ Fritz home for a 5-2 SCF lead, but the Eagles would add a run of their own off of a fielder's choice by freshman Andrew Fernandez for a 5-3 SCF lead before Rodriguez hit an RBI single at the top of the seventh to send freshman Jacob Steinberg home for a 6-3 SCF lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Eagles would add their final run after another RBI single by Kirksey before the Manatees to seal the deal at the top of the ninth that started with a leadoff single by sophomore John Malcom. After a one-out single by Nitch, Steinberg would send Malcom home on a fielding error before Rodriguez brought in the final two runs with a two-RBI single for a 9-4 lead and eventually the win.

Cole Ayers would be credited with the win after throwing five innings and giving up two unearned runs on four hits with two walks and nine strikeouts. Ayers is now 1-1 on the season.

Sophomore Toni Rossi threw 2.1 innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Freshman Austen Kessler threw 1.2 scoreless innings with a walk and two strikeouts.

Martin would be credited with the loss after giving up one run on four hits with two strikeouts in three innings.

Rodriguez led the Manatees offense as he went 4-for-4 with four RBI and a walk. Ellington (one RBI), Fritz (one run scored), Owen Ayers (one RBI, one run scored and one walk), Nitch (two runs scored) and Patry (two RBI and a run scored) had two hits apiece.

Kirksey led the Eagles offense batting 3-for-4 with two RBI, while sophomore Julian Barcelo was 2-for-4.

Notes:
Rossi made his debut after spending his freshman year at NCAA DII West Florida.

Up Next:
The Manatees will play TCC one more time Saturday afternoon, February 15 at 1 pm.