Fort Myers, Fla - A towering offense lead by freshman Allan Gil-Fernandez powered the SCF baseball team (16-8, 6-4 Citrus) to an upset win over #17 Florida Southwestern (17-7, 8-2 Citrus) as the Manatees won by a score of 11-3 in eight innings via the eight-run mercy rule at Buccaneers Park in Fort Myers.
“The guys were focused and played really well,” said head coach Tim Hill II. “Brandon (Clarke) set the tone and was in control on the mound the whole way while the batters got some big hits. Anytime you scored 11 runs, you like your chances for a win.”
“I thought we did well and executed as a team,” said Gil-Fernandez. “We picked each other up hitting wise and mercy ruled them and pitching was really good. We did a great job.”
“Brandon (Clarke) had a good game so hats off to him for that,” said freshman Trevor Ziegler. “The hitters did a good job with the bats and anytime that happens, it's a good day for us.”
Hill II sent sophomore Brandon Clarke (3-1, 5.27 ERA) to start the opening game of the series, while FSW head coach Zach Cole went with sophomore Landon Burch (1-0, 3.32 ERA) to counter.
The first inning saw the Manatees on the board first as Gil-Fernandez would bring in sophomore Jalen Hairston for the first run of the game. One inning later, sophomore Luis Garrido would make it 2-0 after hitting a double and scoring on a passed ball.
At the top of the third, the Manatees would increase their lead further beginning with a one-out walk drawn by Gil-Fernandez. After sophomore Santiago Ordonez reached base on a throwing error and advanced to scoring position, freshman Hayden Gustavson would ground a single to right to bring in Gil-Fernandez. One batter later, Garrido would send a hard single to bring in Ordonez to make it 4-0 SCF.
The Buccaneers would add their first runs of the game in the bottom of the third off of an RBI groundout by sophomore Victor Figueroa and classmate Justin Thomas scoring on a wild pitch to make it 4-2 still in SCF’s favor.
Three innings later, the Manatees would start to swing the hot bat. After sophomore Erick Almonte reached first on a fielding error and Hairston was hit by a pitch, freshman Pip Smalley would send a single to center to bring in Almonte before Gil-Fernandez sent a triple to deep right to bring in Hairston and Smalley to make it 7-2 SCF. Clarke would then close the bottom of the sixth with the defense behind him.
Zeigler would then enter the seventh inning for Clarke where he would get out of a jam with a runner on third and strikeout the last batter.
The Manatees would add their final runs of the game as Gil-Fernandez would send a shot to left-center for his fourth home run of the season and his first collegiate grand slam of to make it 11-2 SCF.
“There was no pressure and I just wanted to help out my team,” said Gil-Fernandez on his first grand slam. "I was trying to hit the ball to the middle and get a single. The good pitch came and I was really emotional about it. It was the hit of the game.”
The Buccaneers would add one final run of their own off of a passed ball before freshman Daniel Hartley was able to get the final out and seal the victory for the Manatees.
Clarke would improve to 4-1 after giving up two runs on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts in six innings of work.
Ziegler would give up one run on one hit with two walks and two strikeouts in one and two-thirds innings of relief, while Hartley threw one-third of a scoreless inning of relief.
“I felt good on the mound,” said Ziegler. “The first inning was no trouble and there was a lot of weak contact. While I couldn't get the second inning fully done, Daniel (Hartley) helped me out and kept the mercy rule in tact.”
Burch would fall to 1-1 after giving up four runs (one earned) on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts in five innings. Freshman Josiah Velazquez would give up seven runs (four earned) on six hits with four strikeouts in three innings of relief.
Four Manatees had a multi-hit game. It was Gil-Fernandez that would lead the way in hitting as he went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs, one walk and seven RBI. In fact, he was a double shy of his first cycle.
“Allan is a good hitter and has had a lot of success with us,” said Hill II on Gil-Fernandez. “He had some really big hits for us, including that grand slam that set the bar and shorten the game for us. He did a really good job.”
Hairston (2-for-4), Smalley (2-for-3) and Garrido (2-for-4) rounded out the order with two hits each. Hairston added three runs scored, while Smalley added one RBI, two runs scored and a walk and Garrido added one RBI, one run and one stolen base.
Almonte (1-for-4, two runs and one walk), Gustavson (1-for-5, one RBI) and freshman Luke Boykin (1-for-5) had the remaining three hits while Ordonez (one run scored) also contributed in the game.
For the Buccaneers, redshirt freshman Nick Pereria lead the way in hitting as he went 2-for-3 with a walk.
Other Citrus Conference Scores:
Seminole State College of Florida (15-9, 4-6 Citrus) defeated Central Florida (14-10, 5-5 Citrus) 18-10 in eight innings.
Miami Dade (12-12, 6-4 Citrus) defeated Santa Fe (14-10, 5-6 Citrus) 12-0 in five innings via mercy rule.
Daytona State (12-10, 4-6 Citrus) defeated St. Pete College (7-15, 2-8 Citrus) 11-2 in six innings via mercy rule.
Indian River State (14-7, 6-4 Citrus) defeated Eastern Florida State (13-10-1, 5-5 Citrus) 4-1.
Polk State (13-14, 4-6 Citrus) defeated Hillsborough (14-10, 5-5 Citrus) 6-2.
Citrus Conference Standings:
1. #17 Florida Southwestern (17-7, 8-2)
2. SCF (16-8, 6-4)
3. Indian River State (14-7, 6-4)
4. Miami Dade (12-12, 6-4)
5. Hillsborough (14-10, 5-5)
6. Central Florida (14-10, 5-5)
7. Santa Fe (14-9, 5-4)
8. Eastern Florida State (13-10-1, 5-5)
9. Seminole State College (15-9, 4-6)
10. Daytona State (12-10, 4-6)
11. Polk State (14-14, 4-6)
12. St. Pete (7-15, 2-8)
Up Next:
The Manatees will look to go for a sweep over #17 Florida Southwestern as they welcome the Buccaneers to Robert C. Wynn Field for a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, March 9 at 1 and 4 pm.
Sophomore Ed Wagner (2-2, 4.75 ERA) will be given the nod to start game one while classmate Bryan Gomez (2-0, 4.66 ERA) will start game two.
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