OCALA, FL (352today.com) – In a game filled with offensive fireworks, Seminole State College edged the College of Central Florida (CF) 16-15 in a back-and-forth battle Thursday at Goodlett Field.
CF appeared in control after a six-run fifth inning broke a 2-2 tie. Victor Martinez singled home a run, Anthony Diaz was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Jacob McKenzie cleared the bases with a double. Dawson Harman added an RBI single to cap the scoring.
The lead was short-lived as Seminole State erupted in the sixth. Anthony Saleeba’s two-run homer cut the deficit to 8-5 before an RBI double from Cameron King, a wild pitch, and RBI hits by Erwin Cabassa and Juan Orozco put the Raiders ahead 9-8.
CF reclaimed the lead in the sixth when Diaz tied it with an RBI single and defensive miscues allowed three unearned runs, making it 12-9. However, the Raiders again responded, tying the game at 12 in the seventh before pushing across four runs in the eighth.
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King’s RBI single made it 14-12, and two additional runs on a fielder’s choice and sacrifice fly gave Seminole State a 16-12 advantage.
The Patriots fought back in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI double from Logan Chapman and a two-run double by Brett House, closing the gap to 16-15. CF had the tying run aboard in the ninth, but Seminole State closer Chris Zupito struck out Armando Guirola to secure the win.
Garrett Caropreso (2-1) earned the win, while Cooper Ryan (2-1) took the loss.
Top-ranked CF (18-5, 6-4) and No. 10 Seminole State (16-8, 6-4) conclude their series Saturday in Sanford, with first pitch at 11 a.m.
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