Manatees Take Two in Thrilling Fashion
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 2 |
|
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4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 1 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 0 |
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0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | X | 12 | 15 | 1 |
Game 1
The State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota edged out College of Central Florida in a tightly contested 6–5 battle, using timely hitting and late-inning pitching to secure the victory.
SCF tallied 10 hits on the afternoon, highlighted by a big performance from Holden Brauner. The designated hitter went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, delivering key swings that kept the Manatees in front. Ryan Kaitz added two hits and scored twice, while Dominic Woodward drove in a run. Karson Grout and Will Rawls also contributed RBIs, with Rawls adding a double to the extra-base hit column.
The game featured plenty of power from Central Florida, which blasted four home runs. Talan Beckford, Jose Correa, and Brett House—who homered twice—accounted for all five Patriot runs. Correa finished with two hits and two runs scored, while Victor Martinez chipped in a pair of hits and an RBI.
On the mound, Lochlan Radloff gave SCF six strong innings despite the long ball, striking out 11 while allowing five runs on nine hits. Riley McDonald earned the win in relief, tossing a scoreless seventh inning to shut the door.
Central Florida's Lance Hartley started and allowed four runs over four innings, while Niko Janssens and Jose Paniagua combined to surrender two more runs in relief. Despite striking out 11 SCF hitters, the Patriots could not overcome the Manatees' balanced offensive attack.
Game 2
In a back-and-forth slugfest, the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota outlasted the College of Central Florida for a thrilling 12–10 victory, using a late offensive surge and shutdown relief pitching to seal the win.
Central Florida struck for 10 runs on 11 hits, powered by three home runs. Cal Johnson launched a three-run shot and finished with three RBIs, while Victor Martinez went 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs. Bruno Schafer also went deep, and Jose Correa set the tone at the top of the lineup, going 3-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored, and an RBI.
SCF answered with an offensive explosion of its own, racking up 15 hits and three home runs. Ben Ryan led the charge with two home runs and four RBIs, delivering the biggest blows of the night. Steele Burd added a three-run homer as part of a three-RBI performance, while Calin Heath filled the stat sheet with a double, a triple, and three RBIs.
Ryan Kaitz and Dominic Woodward each collected two hits, and Will Rawls reached base four times, scoring twice and swiping a bag as the Manatees kept constant pressure on the Patriots' pitching staff.
On the mound, SCF used a committee approach. Vincent Cooke earned the win after navigating a key middle-inning stretch, and Riley McDonald shut the door with 1.1 scoreless innings to record the save. Despite allowing three home runs, the Manatees' bullpen held firm late to preserve the lead.