SCF Baseball Takes Win Over Polk State

Winter Haven, Fla - Sophomore Brandon Clarke’s strong outing on the mound helped pave the way for the SCF baseball team (11-5, 2-2 Citrus) as they defeated Polk State (10-10, 1-3 Citrus) 9-5 at Bing Tyus Yard in Winter Haven. 

“I thought the guys came ready to play today,” said head coach Tim Hill II. “When we scored off the bat, I thought the energy and focus was good. We challenged our guys to not take these conference games for granted and they showed that didn't take it for granted. While we were a little sloppy on the defensive side, the guys pulled it together.”

“The hitting and pitching were timely,” said freshman Pip Smalley. “You do that, you win games.”

“We were able to pick each other up and help Brandon [Clarke] get through the game and pick up some big hits,” said freshman Hayden Gustavson. “It was good win overall.”

Hill II gave Clarke the nod to start the game while Polk State head coach Al Corbeil went with sophomore Aiden Butler (3-0, 2.21 ERA) to counter.

The top of the first inning saw the Manatees on the scoreboard beginning with a lead off single by sophomore Erick Almonte before classmate Jalen Hairston sent a double to center to get the first run on the board. After Hairston stole third, Smalley would send a single to left to bring in Hairston for a 2-0 SCF.

While Clarke was able to breeze through the first, the Eagles rattled him in the bottom of the second as sophomore Evan Wainman would hit an RBI single before redshirt sophomore Kelen Johnson tied the game at 2-2 with an RBI groundout. Clarke was able to escape the inning with two strikeouts to end the second.

The Manatees would regain the lead at the top of the third as Smalley would hit another RBI single to the right to bring in Hairston to make it 3-2 SCF. They would increase the lead to 4-2 at the top of the fourth as freshman Luke Boykin would send a double to center to bring in sophomore Luis Garrido. 

The Eagles would cut the Manatees lead to 4-3 after an RBI single by freshman Nicholas Upperman in the bottom of the fourth, but it would only stir the Manatees’ bat at the top of the fifth as Smalley would send a leadoff solo home run to center for his first collegiate home run.

“I was trying to see something up and the pitcher (Butler) was throwing a lot of curveballs,” said Smalley on his first home run. “Once I saw him throw a fastball up I was lucky enough to hit one off the barrel.”

Meanwhile, Clarke remained steadfast and calm in the bottom of the fifth as the upcoming South Carolina transfer would regain control of his curveball and strike out the side.

Hill II would then send freshman Trevor Ziegler to the mound to come in for Clarke in the sixth and despite putting two runners on base, the Cincinnati transfer was able to get out of the inning.

At the top of the seventh, with Smalley and sophomore Santiago Ordonez on base, Gustavson would give the Manatees another offensive spark as the Lake City native would send a line drive to left past the left fielder and put on some speed as he hustled all the way home for a three-run inside the park home run for his first collegiate home run to make it 8-3 SCF.

“It was definitely a unique way for me to get my first home run,” said Gustavson on his first home run. “I couldn't have had it any other way. I needed to break away and it paid off to give us a big lead.”

The Eagles would put a run in the bottom of the seventh after a Manatee fielding error to make it 8-4 still in favor of the Manatees.

At the top of the ninth, the Manatees would their final run of the game as Boykin would bring in Gustavson with an RBI single. The Eagles would score in the bottom half of the inning as sophomore Damion Kenealy would hit an RBI double, but it would be all they could produce as the Manatees sealed the victory.

"We battled through even when we had to face that tough wall in the second inning, but I was able to help the team," said Clarke. "The guys had my back when I was struggling a little bit and I was able to find my groove and we pulled it together."

Clarke would improve to 2-1 after giving up three runs on four hits with two walks and a career-high 11 strikeouts in five innings. Ziegler would give up two runs (one earned) on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts in four innings of relief.

“I tried to fill the zone and had a solid first inning,” said Clarke on his game. “When I hit the wall in the second inning I started to fall behind, but the team had my back and my confidence was rejuvinated for the last three innings.”

“Brandon does good things every time he goes out on the mound,” said Hill II on Clarke. “While he did run into a little bit of trouble in the second inning, but when he started his breaking ball for a strike early, Polk State didn't have a chance.”

Butler would fall to 3-1 after giving up five runs on nine hits with three walks and six strikeouts in five innings.

Four Manatees had a multi-hit game. It was Smalley and Almonte that lead the way in hitting as they each had four hits. Smalley (4-for-4) added three RBI, two runs and a walk, while Almonte (4-for-5) added two runs and a walk.

Hairston and Boykin rounded out the other as they both went 2-for-5. Hairston added one RBI, one run, one walk and one stolen base, while Boykin added two RBI

Gustavson finished behind Smalley in offense as he went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI while Garrido had the remaining hit as he went 1-for-4 with a run and Ordonez (one run and two walk) also contributed in the game.

For the Eagles, Kenealy and Wainman each had two hits in the game.

Other Citrus Conference Scores:

Hillsborough (13-4, 4-0 Citrus) defeated St. Pete (5-9, 0-4 Citrus) 8-6.

Florida Southwestern (12-5, 4-0 Citrus) defeated Indian River State (10-4, 3-1 Citrus) 13-12 in 12 innings.

Miami Dade (10-8, 2-2 Citrus) shutout Seminole State (11-5, 2-2 Citrus) 10-0 in five innings via mercy rule.

Central Florida (13-4, 3-1 Citrus) defeated Eastern Florida State (7-9-1, 0-4 Citrus) 13-12.

Daytona State (8-7, 1-3 Citrus) defeated Santa Fe (11-6, 2-2  Citrus) 13-9

Citrus Conference Standings:

1. Hillsborough (13-4, 4-0)

2. Florida Southwestern (12-5, 4-0)

3. Central Florida (11-4, 3-1)

4. Indian River State (10-4, 3-1)

5. Seminole State (11-5, 2-2)

6. SCF (11-5, 2-2)

7. Santa Fe (11-6, 2-2)

8. Miami Dade (10-8, 2-2)

9. Daytona State (8-7, 1-3)

10. Polk State (10-10, 1-3)

11. Eastern Florida State (7-9-1, 0-4)

12. St. Pete (5-9, 0-4)

Up Next:

The Manatees will resume their series with Polk State as they welcome them to Robert C. Wynn Field for a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, February 24 at 1 and 4 pm. Sophomore Ed Wagner (3-1, 3.15 ERA) will start game one, while classmate Liam Best (1-2, 7.50 ERA) will start game two.