OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The College of Central Florida (CF) Patriots salvaged a split in Saturday’s doubleheader, rallying to beat the State College of Florida Manatees 9-7 after a crushing 13-0 loss in game one.

Facing a sweep, CF fell behind 5-1 in game two before the offense sparked. Dawson Harman’s first of three doubles set up a Logan Chapman RBI single in the third. The Pats surged ahead 6-5 in the fourth with a Harman two-run double, a Miles Curley RBI groundout, and a Victor Martinez two-run homer.

Martinez homered again in the sixth, giving him nine on the season. Tanner Swank added an RBI single in the seventh to cap the scoring.

Courtesy: Heidi Kearney/College of Central Florida

Jose Paniagua (3-0) earned the win in relief, tossing 3.1 innings of one-hit, one-run ball with five strikeouts. Arturo Ormaza recorded his fourth save with 2.1 strong innings.

Offensive leaders included Harman (3 doubles, 3 runs, RBI), Martinez (2 HRs, 4 RBI), Curley (double, 2 RBI), and Swank (2 hits, RBI).

CF improves to 27-10 overall and 12-9 in Citrus Conference play, good for fourth place. The Manatees drop to 25-13 and third in the conference.

The Pats visit Lake Sumter State College on Tuesday, April 1, at 2 p.m. in Leesburg.

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