Baseball Completes Sweep Over TCC

"I'm proud of the guys," said head coach Tim Hill II. "They really came through in a big way this weekend. I thought Allan (Gil-Fernandez) and Jalen (Hairston) really swung the bat really well and Palmer (O'Beirne) really stepped up in the second game. I look forward to the guys do the same work for Tuesday."

"The team played great today," said sophomore Ed Wagner. "Our hitters were on fire. In the end, it always going to feel good to get a sweep, but when its on the road it feels even better."

"I thought the team did good overall," said freshman Allan Gil-Fernandez. "While the pitching was ok, our batting was spectacular. To get a sweep on the road feels great. We executed what was needed and made the right plays that were needed and I felt that was key to the success of our weekend."

"I thought the team played great," said freshman Walker Vanecek. "Everyone grinded and put together greats ABs. Our pitching may not have been on their "A" game today, but we picked them up scoring 10+ runs a game. In the end, it felt great to come out with three wins on the road."

Game One:

Hill II sent Wagner to the mound to start the first game of the doubleheader, while TCC head coach Bryan Henry went with sophomore Austin Asbill to counter.

The Manatees would get on the board first at the top of the first. After a leadoff single by sophomore Luis Garrido and a walk drawn by classmate Jalen Hairston, before they moved to scoring position on a wild pitch, freshman Allan Gil-Fernandez would ground out, but would bring Garrido home for the first run before classmate Pip Smalley drove in Hairston with a groundout to make it 2-0 SCF.

Two innings later, freshman Luke Boykin would draw a bases-loaded walk to bring in Smalley to make it 3-0 SCF at the top of the third. In the bottom half of the inning, the Eagles would cut the deficit to 3-2 after an RBI triple by redshirt sophomore Justen Crews before scoring on a wild pitch.

At the top of the fourth, the Manatees would bring the lead back up. After a one-out walk by Hairston, Gil-Fernandez would send a double to left to bring in Hairston before Henry pulled Asbill and sent freshman Luke Baldwin to the mound. Following the pitching change, freshman Hayden Gustavson would pop a single to right to bring in Gil-Fernandez to make it 5-2 SCF.

Heading to the top of the fifth, the Manatees would load the bases again thanks to Wetherell (hit by pitch), Garrido (hit by pitch) and sophomore LT Cockrill (single). This would signal for another pitching change as Henry would send freshman Aiden Denlinger to the mound.

Following the pitching change, Hairston would unload on his bat as he sent a double to left to bring in Wetherell and Cockrill before Gil-Fernandez sent a two-run double of his own to left to bring in Garrido and Hairston. After Smalley was hit by a pitch, freshman Walker Vanecek would come in to pinch run before Henry pulled Denlinger and sent freshman Ryan Meekins to the mound.

Gustavson would then send a single to center to bring in Gil-Fernandez and Vanecek home before advancing to third on a fielding error. This would give sophomore Santiago Ordonez a moment to single to center and bring in Gustavson for a 12-2 SCF lead.

The Eagles would add a run in the bottom of the fifth as redshirt freshman Hunter Rebhan would hit an RBI double to make it 12-3 still in SCF's favor, but the upcoming transfer for the University of North Carolina-Charlotte was able to brush it off and get out of the inning.

At the top of the sixth, the Manatees continued to put more runs on the board beginning. After Garrido (walk), Hairston (walk) and Gil-Fernandez (single) loaded the bases, Vanecek would send a single to second to bring in Garrido and Hairston to make it 14-3 SCF.

In the bottom half of the inning, Hill II would send freshman Gavyn Bowen to the mound for relief, but but would get rattled as he gave up a grand slam to redshirt sophomore Jaden Flowers for his first of the season. After giving up another single and a walk, Hill II would then send sophomore Trey Clucas to the mound to finish the sixth. Despite walking a batter to load the bases full of Eagles, Clucas was able to get out of the sixth.

At the top of the seventh, after Clucas gave up a walk to leadoff the inning, freshman Daniel Hartley would come in to finish the inning as the Eagles would hit into a double play before redshirt freshman Evan Rodriguez struck out to end the game and give the Manatees the win.

Wagner would improve to 1-1 after giving up three runs on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts in five innings.

"I felt pretty good today," said Wagner on his game. "There are definitely some things I need to work on before we start start conference play."

Bowen would give up four runs on four hits with two walks and one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning of relief, while Clucas threw a third of a scoreless inning of relief with two walks and Hartley threw one scoreless inning of relief with one strikeout.

Asbill would fall to 0-1 after giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts in three and a third innings.

Four Manatees had a multi-hit game for game one. Gil-Fernandez (3-for-6) and Ordonez (3-for-4) would each have three hits apiece. Gil-Fernandez added two runs and four RBI, while Ordonez added one RBI.

Garrido and Gustavson rounded out the order in multi-hits as they each went 2-for-3 at the plate. Garrido added three runs and two walks, while Gustavson added two RBI, one run and one walk.

Hairston and Vanecek also rounded out the team's offense as they each had a hit and two RBI. Hairston (1-for-2) added four walks and four runs, while Vanecek (1-for-1) added a run.

Boykin (1-for-4, one RBI and one walk), Wetherell (1-for-4, one run) and Cockrill (1-for-5, one run) had the remaining three hits, while Smalley (one run and one RBI) also contributed in the first game.

For the Eagles, Flowers would lead the way in hitting and offense as he finished 2-for-2 with the grand slam, four RBI and two runs.

Game Two:

Looking to get the complete sweep of the doubleheader and the series, Hill II sent sophomore Liam Best (1-0, 5.14 ERA) to the mound, while Henry sent freshman Justin Morales (1-0, 0.00 ERA) to counter.

At the top of the first, the Manatees would once again strike first as Gil-Fernandez would bring in Garrido with a sacrifice fly to center. One inning later, Vanecek would showcase his power as he sent a leadoff solo homer to left for his first collegiate home run of the season.

"It felt good to connect with my first home run," said Vaneck on his first home run. "I feel really good and confident at the plate as of recent."

After freshman Daniel Hartley reached base on a fielding error and Garrido drew a walk, Gil-Fernandez would show power again as he sent a three-run blast to left for his second of the season.

The Eagles would get their first run on the board in the bottom half of the second as freshman Derek Henry would hit an RBI single to make it 5-1 SCF before Best was able to get through the second inning. One inning later, the Eagles would cut the lead to three as Crews scored on a wild pitch. This would signal the end for Best as freshman Palmer O'Beirne would come in for relief and get out of the third inning.

At the top of the fourth, the Manatees would increase their lead higher. After Hairston (hit by pitch), Gil-Fernandez (single) and sophomore Santiago Ordonez (walk) loaded the bases, Boykin would show his bat as he lined a double to left to bring in Hairston and Gil-Fernandez before Vanecek brought in Ordonez and Boykin with a two-run double of his own to make it 9-2 SCF. In the bottom half of the inning, the Eagles would add their final run of the game as redshirt sophomore Patrick Sheffield would send a leadoff homer to left for his first of the season.

At the top of the fifth, the Manatees decided to put their final runs on the board before securing the final game beginning with a leadoff single by Hartley before he advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt. After Hairston was hit by pitch, Hartley would score on a wild pitch while Hairston advanced to third on the same pitch before Gil-Fernandez would send a single to center to bring in Hairston. After a single by Gustavson, Boykin and Vanecek would hit back-to-back RBI singles to make it 14-3 SCF before O'Beirne sealed the final inning with two strikeouts for another Manatees win by mercy rule.

Best would earn a no-decision after giving up two runs on four hits with five walks and three strikeouts in two and two-thirds innings. O'Beirne would improve to 3-0 after giving up one run on one hit with two strikeouts in two and a third innings of relief.

Morales would fall to 1-1 after giving up nine runs (six earned) on five hits with five walks and four strikeouts in three and two-thirds innings. Redshirt sophomore John Costa gave up five runs on six hits with two strikeouts in one and a third innings of relief.

Three Manatees had a multi-hit game in the second game. Gil-Fernandez lead the way offensively as he went 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run, three runs scored and five RBI. The Dominican native finished the doubleheader 6-for-10 with nine RBI and 7-for-16 with a home run and 11 RBI for the entire series.

"I felt confident and comfortable at the plate," said Gil-Fernandez. "With the same mentality of the last week and the same approach, I have a role on this team and that is trying to help when it's needed the most."

Vanecek would follow with three-hit game of his own as he went 3-for-3 with a home run, four RBI and one walk.

Boykin would round out the order as he finished 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs.

Garrido (1-for-3, two runs and a walk), Gustavson (1-for-3, one run, one walk and one stolen base) and Hartley (1-for-3, two runs) had the remaining three hits, while Hairston (two runs scored), Ordonez (one run and one walk) and Wetherell (one walk) also contributed in the second game.

Sheffield, Henry, redshirt sophomores Jesus Vanegas, redshirt freshman Boone Hosey and freshman Jacob Riegal each had one of the Eagles's five hits.

Other Citrus Conference Scores:

Miami Dade (6-5) split day two of the three-day John Tindall Classic in Auburndale as they fell to #15 Florence-Darlington Tech (4-3) 7-5 before defeating St. John's River State (7-5) 11-10. The Sharks will wrap up day three of the John Tindall Classic as they play Florence-Darlington Tech Sunday morning, February 11 at 10 am.

Santa Fe (9-2) swept South Florida State (4-8) by scores of 13-3 and 7-4. The Saints will face Tallahassee CC Tuesday afternoon, February 13 at 2 pm.

#1 Central Florida (7-3) swept South Georgia State (4-6) by scores of 3-2 and 14-4. The Patriots will take on Abraham Baldwin (2-6) Tuesday afternoon, February 13 at 2 pm.

Daytona State (5-4) fell to Florida State College at Jacksonville (4-4) 5-4. The Falcons will take on St. John's River State Tuesday afternoon, February 13 at 3 pm.

Indian River State (6-3) defeated Seminole State (6-3) 11-6. The Pioneers will take on Palm Beach State (8-1) Tuesday afternoon, February 13 at 2 pm, while the Raiders take on Polk State Tuesday evening, February 13 at 5 pm.

St. Pete (5-4) won their series 2-1 over Pasco Hernando State (4-6) as they swept the doubleheader by scores of 7-2 and 9-7. The Titans will take on Lake Sumter State Wednesday afternoon, February 14 at 2 pm. 

Eastern Florida State (6-4-1) swept their doubleheader over Sunshine Elite Academy by scores of 6-2 and 8-3. The Titans will take on Webber International JV (0-3) Tuesday evening, February 13 at 5 pm.

#16 Florida Southwestern (6-5) swept A3 Academy 16-2 and 17-1. The Buccaneers will take on New College of Florida (3-4) Tuesday afternoon, February 13 at 1 pm.

Polk State (8-6) split with Lake Sumter State (3-8-1) losing game one 6-2 before winning game two 15-6.

Hillsborough (8-3) fell to East Georgia State (10-1) by a score of 13-0 in six innings. The Hawks will take on A3 Academy Tuesday afternoon, February 13 at 2 pm.

Citrus Conference Standings:

1. Santa Fe (9-2)

2. Hillsborough (8-3)

3. #1 Central Florida (7-3)

4. SCF (7-3)

5. Indian River State (6-3)

6. Seminole State (6-3) 

7. Eastern Florida State (6-4-1)

8. Polk State (8-6)

9. Daytona State (5-4)

10. St. Pete (5-4)

11. #16 Florida Southwestern (6-5)

12. Miami Dade (6-5)

Up Next:

The Manatees will remain on the road as they will travel to New Port Richey to take on Pasco Hernando State (4-6) Tuesday night, February 13 at 6 pm. Sophomore Bryan Gomez (1-0, 4.89 ERA) will be given the nod to start.