“It always feels nice to start off the series and second half of conference with a win,” said head coach Tim Hill II. “It was a hard fought game. We got down early right in the first inning, but we battled back to get a nice win on the road. It wasn’t the prettiest win, but we will take it.”
Hill sent sophomore Matt Gelorme to the mound, while SFSC head coach Rick Hitt sent freshman Myles Caba to counter.
At the bottom of the first, the Panthers would get on the board first after a two-RBI single by freshman Zeddric Burnham and a sacrifice fly by sophomore Hunter Wilde to make it 3-0 SFSC.
At the top of the third, sophomore Tucker Mitchell would cut the Panthers lead to 3-2 after hitting a two-run homer to left to bring himself and freshman Brayden Woodburn. It was Mitchell’s third home fun of the season.
“I was able to come up in an advantage count to put a good swing on a fastball and saw the ball well,” said Mitchell on his home run.
At the top of the fifth, the Manatees were able to put a rally together. Woodburn and freshman Joel Perez drew walks and sophomore Rook Ellington hit a single to load the bases for Mitchell to start the inning. On a full count, the upcoming NC State commit would get hit by a pitch and bring in Woodburn to tie the game at 3-3. Sophomore Owen Ayers would then send a sacrifice fly to center and bring in in Perez and Ellington to give the Manatees a 5-3 lead.
From there, sophomore David Barrett came in for Gelorme and breezez through the next three innings before classmate Tony Rossi, despite loading the bases, closed the door to give the Manatees a the win.
“This win was huge for us to start off the second half of conference on the right track,” said Mitchell on the win. “We’re going to see them two more times and we’re excited to continue on the track that we’re on.”
“This win was huge for us to start off the second half of conference on the right track,” said Mitchell on the win. “We’re going to see them two more times and we’re excited to continue on the track that we’re on.”
Gelorme would move to 3-0 after giving up all three runs on six hits with theee walks and five strikeouts in five innings.
“Matt got off to a slow start giving up three in the first inning,” said Hill on Gelorme’s start. “Nevertheless, he kept us in the ball game.”
Barrett threw three scoreless innings of relief with two walks and five strikeouts.
Rossi earned his first save of the season after throwing one scoreless inning of relief with one walk.
Rossi earned his first save of the season after throwing one scoreless inning of relief with one walk.
“David and Tony did some good things,” said Hill on Barrett and Rossi. “South Florida threatened a lot the last several innings, but those guys made pitches when they had to and we came up with a big double play to end the game.”
Caba would fall to 3-4 after giving up all five runs on two hits with three walks and two strikeouts in five innings.
Mitchell would be the only Manatee with a multi-hit game as he went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.
Perez, Ellington and freshman Kevin Karstetter had the remaining three hits.
Other Suncoast Scores:
#13 Florida Southwestern State (32-10, 13-3 Suncoast) defeated Polk State (26-15, 10-5 Suncoast) 8-5.
Hillsborough (13-19, 5-11 Suncoast) defeated St. Pete (18-15, 6-10 Suncoast) 8-3.
Suncoast Standings:
1. #13 FSW (32-10, 13-3)
2. SCF (27-14, 11-5)
3. Polk (26-15, 10-6)
4. SPC (18-5, 6-10)
5. HCC (13-19, 5-11)
6. SFSC (16-24, 3-13)
Up Next:
The Manatees will look to win the series against South Florida State as game two returns to Wynn Field Monday night, April 5 at 6 pm. Sophomore Cole Ayers will be given the nod for the start.
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