BlueWave falls in tight series to Pasco-Hernando

NEW PORT RICHEY, FLA. - FSCJ baseball took the drive southwest to Pasco-Hernando State College this weekend to take on the Bobcats in a three-game Sunlakes Conference series. The homestanding Bobcats fell in game one of the series before taking games two and three. This series decided the top seed and host for the conference tournament that will take place at the end of this month. This takes the FSCJ record to 21-16 (5-6). 

Game One - FSCJ 8, PHSC 3

The Friday night game went the way of the visitors from Jacksonville by a score of 8-3 on the back of pitching and timely hitting. Daniel Gaviria led the way on the mound for the Blue Wave, throwing seven strong innings, allowing only two runs on four hits, walking one and striking out three. The win takes his record to 4-2. Manny Reyes closed out the final two innings, allowing one run and striking out two. At the plate, Cam Wademan and Barry Eiseman both had multi-hit and multi-RBI days. Eight of the nine FSCJ starters had at least one hit, and all nine reached base. FSCJ took advantage of early Bobcat miscues to score three runs in the first on a collection of walks and errors, before tacking on four more in the fourth inning on a Blake Wood sac fly, Cam Wademan two-RBI double, and Barry Eiseman RBI single. The final Blue Wave run scored on a Luka Torralva RBI single in the seventh.

Game Two - PHSC 11, FSCJ 5

Saturday's doubleheader started with an early back and forth game before PHSC was able to capitalize and pull away on Blue Wave free passes. FSCJ pulled out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning on a Hunter Bradshaw RBI single and a passed ball. PHSC stormed back with one in the third, and five each in the fourth and fifth to make it 11-2. The boys in blue answered back with three of their own in the sixth, but were unable to overcome to big deficit, resulting in an 11-5 final. Blue Wave starter Brian Veniard took the loss on the mound, taking his season record to 4-2, going 3.1 innings and allowing six runs. Barry Eiseman made his first career appearance on the mound, throwing the final two innings and allowing only one run. At the plate, Barry Eiseman and Blake Wood had multi-hit games. 

Game Three - PHSC 4, FSCJ 3 (10 innings)

The second game of Saturday's doubleheader needed extra innings to decide the winner of this series' rubber match. FSCJ jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a passed ball before adding another to make it 2-0 in the fifth on a Cam Wademan RBI single. PHSC tied it up on a two-run home run in the fifth. FSCJ regained the lead in the very next inning on a Luka Torralva RBI single. Pasco-Hernando tied it in the eighth on a fielder's choice and walked it off in the tenth on a single to take the game. Freshman RHP Dylan Dudones was outstanding in his start for the Wave, having his best outing of the year and going six innings, allowing two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. Patrick Groark (2-2) took the loss, going 3.1 innings and allowing two runs. Cam Wademan had a season-best four hits, while Jack Gidcumb had three hits and Luka Torralva had two. 

What's Next?

FSCJ will return home to the friendly confines of Howard Roey Field for the remaining seven games of the regular season. Inspiration Academy will come to town on Tuesday for a 12:00 PM doubleheader before ASA College (Miami) is welcomed to Jacksonville next weekend for a non-conference three-game series.