Early runs not enough as BlueWave falls to CF

Florida State College at Jacksonville baseball traveled down to Ocala on Tuesday to battle with the defending national champion College of Central Florida Patriots.

Central Florida 9, FSCJ 7

Early offensive explosions by both teams gave way to a pitching dual late in the game as the two teams traded blows all game. FSCJ took an early 1-0 lead in the 1^st inning, cashing in on a Aidan Hampton RBI double. CF responded with four in the bottom half of the inning with a home run and two separate RBI singles. The BlueWave would respond to tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the second on RBI singles by Matt Retamoza and Braden Kessel. The homestanding Patriots would once again use the longball to regain the lead at 7-4 in the bottom of the 2^nd. A Billy Girgis RBI single tacked on the 5^th run for the BlueWave in the 3^rd, and Central Florida responded with one of their own. Single runs for FSCJ in the top of the 4^th (Alex Monile home run) and the 5^th (Monile RBI single) brought FSCJ within one at 8-7 in the top of the 5^th. That score would stay gridlocked outside of a solo home run for CF in the bottom of the 7^th, bringing the final to 9-7.

Monile led the Wave with two hits, including his first career home run. Girgis also had two hits. Brooks Hicken doubled. Dylan Peck (0-3) took the loss on the mound, going 1.1 innings, allowing 6 runs on 5 hits, 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Gant Geiger (3.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K), Connor Nelson (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K), and Ethan Yesensky (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K) provided quality relief out of the bullpen.

What's Next?

Weekend number five of SLC play will see FSCJ play host to South Florida State College for a three game series, starting on Thursday for a 2:00 PM doubleheader and continuing on Friday with a 10:00 AM game.