"I thought the guys had a gutsy performance today, but they all did a good job to get the win" said head coach Tim Hill II. "Now we can turn our attention to a big series against FSW."
Hill sent sophomore Christian Gordon to the mound, while HCC head coach Raydon Leaton went with sophomore Murphy Bostick to counter.
The Manatees would strike first in the bottom of the first beginning with a leadoff infield single from sophomore Miguel Larreal. After freshman Tayden Hall hit a single of his own, sophomore Kevin Karstetter would send a single to center to bring in Larreal for the first run of the game. After sophomore Owen Ayers moved Hall to third and Karstetter stole second to move into scoring position, sophomore Harrison Long would send a single to center to bring in Hall. After sophomore Brandon Fields would drew a walk to load the bases, classmate Kyle Harbison drew a walk to bring in Karstetter. This would set up a chance for sophomore Jake Jackson at the plate. On an 0-1 count, the upcoming Liberty University transfer would send a shot to center for a grand slam for his second of the season, his first collegiate grand slam, to give the Manatees a 7-0 lead. It signaled the end for Murphy as Leaton would send freshman Chase Jackson to finish the inning.
“It felt good,” said Jackson on his first grand slam. “I was just happy I could do something to help the team win.”
Hill would pull Gordon at the top of the second and send sophomore Nick Cosentino to get a scoreless second.
At the top of the third, Hill would make another pitching change and send freshman Ryan Sediuk to the mound. After the pitching change, the Hawks would get their first runs on the board thanks to a two-run homer by freshman Jordan Sanchez for his third of the season.
In the bottom half of the third, the Manatees would add on to their lead. After a leadoff single by Fields, Harbison would send a triple to right to bring in Fields. After Jackson drew a walk, Larreal would send a single to center to bring in Harbison. In the bottom of the fourth, Ayers would then send a solo homer to right for his 13th of the season.
"I have been slowing the game down for myself at the plate and was looking to do damage," said Ayers on his home run. "I saw the pitcher miss a spot and leave it over the plate and I was able to put my best swing on."
The Hawks would cut the Manatees lead in half at the top of the sixth after a leadoff solo home run from sophomore Dillon Besnier for his seventh of the season, a RBI single by freshman Ty Bitman and Sanchez getting hit by a pitch to bring in Bitman with the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Manatees would add their final run of the game after Jackson hit an RBI groundout to bring in Fields to make it 11-5 SCF.
The Hawks would add their final run of the game after a leadoff homer by sophomore Milton Cuyler for his first of the season, but it was all the Hawks could produce as the Manatees took the series.
"I thought it was a good team win tonight," said Jackson. "The boys hung in there and we got it done. It was a huge win for us. It felt good and we needed to take the series and we successfully did today."
"The team did well overall," said Ayers. "The pitching kept the other team quiet for most of the game while our hitters did very well off the HCC pitching with a seven spot in the first. Taking that second series was huge for us as we are in a tight race for the playoffs."
Gordon would get a no-decision after throwing a scoreless inning with two walks.
Stefiuk would earn his third win of the season after giving up five runs on six hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in five innings of relief. He is now 3-3 on the year.
"Ryan didn't have his best stuff today," said Hill on Stefiuk. "But he worked through it and did a good job."
Cosentino threw one scoreless inning of relief, while freshman Michael Ojeda gave up one run on two hits with one walk and one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning and freshman Gavin Adams threw one and a third scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts.
"Gavin was terrific at the end of the game," said Hill on Adams.
Murphy Bostick would fall to 3-5 after giving up seven runs on five hits with three walks in one third of an inning. Jackson gave up four runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts in six and two-third innings of relief, while sophomore Josh Bostick threw one scoreless inning of relief with one walk and two strikeouts.
Jackson was the hero of the offensive game as he went 2-for-3 with a home run, five RBI and a walk.
"Jake had a good night," said Hill on Jackson. "He is starting to swing the bat better like we know he's capable of doing."
Larreal and Fields both had two hits each. Larreal (2-for-4) added one run and one RBI, while Fields (2-for-3) added three runs, a walk and a stolen base. Harbison finished 1-for-3 with two RBI, one run and a walk.
Karstetter (1-for-3, one RBI, two walks, one run and a stolen base), Hall (1-for-5, one run), Long (1-for-4, one RBI and one run) and Ayers (1-for-5, one home run) had the remaining four hits in the game.
Sanchez lead the Hawks offensively as he went 2-for-3 with three RBI. He was the only Hawk with a multi-RBI game. Besnier also had two hits as he went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Notes:
Ayers was recently named the NJCAA Region 8 Player of the Week. It was the second straight week the Manatees earned the player of the week accolade.
Other Suncoast Scores:
#7 FSW (33-13, 18-3 Suncoast) defeated ASA Miami (11-26-1) 3-2.
Polk State (29-15, 14-7) defeated St. Pete (14-28, 4-20 Suncoast) 8-7 to complete the sweep.
Suncoast Standings:
1. #7 FSW (33-13, 18-3)
2. Polk State (29-15, 14-7)
3. SCF (27-19, 12-9)
4. HCC (16-26, 6-15)
5. SPC (14-28, 4-20)
Up Next:
The Manatees will have their rematch series as they face #7 FSW.
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