Baseball Upsets CF in Walkoff Fashion

Bradenton, Fla - Sophomore Allan Gil Fernandez's walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth propelled the SCF baseball team (24-12, 12-7 Citrus) to a 10-6 upset win over #11 Central Florida (26-9, 11-8 Citrus) at Wynn Field.

"I thought we were in control of the game the whole way through until that eighth inning hit us," said head coach Tim Hill II. "The guys knew how to respond in the ninth, which was really nice to see. Central Florida has a very good team, but we're a nationally ranked caliber team as well. It was a big conference win for us and we need to play well Saturday when we hit the road."

"I felt the team did great," said Gil Fernandez. "We were locked in on every play and we have the next pitch mentality. I thought that was the reason why we won because we were supporting each other all the time."

Hill II sent freshman Aidan Ray (2-0, 3.89 ERA) to the mound, while Central Florida head coach Marty Smith went with freshman Brayden Toro (2-2, 5.50 ERA) to counter.

After the first inning went scoreless, the Manatees would get their first runs on the board in the bottom of the second that started with back-to-back singles by sophomore Luke Boykin and freshman Holden Brauner. After sophomore Allan Gil Fernandez hit a single to left, Boykin would be called out at home trying to score before sophomore Mario Trivella loaded the bases after reaching on an error. One batter later, redshirt sophomore Connor O'Sullivan would send a single to left to bring in Brauner and Gil Fernandez before freshman Mattie Counts followed with an RBI double of his own to right to bring in Trivella for a 3-0 lead.

The Patriot would then get their first run on the board at the top of the fifth as freshman Tanner Swank would score on a wild pitch to make it 3-1 still in SCF's favor. The Manatees would respond back in the bottom half of the inning beginning with freshman Myles Davis getting hit by a pitch. After classmate Ben Ryan popped a double to left, Brauner would ground a double of right to bring in Davis and Ryan to extend SCF's lead to 5-1 before Smith sent freshman Cory Geinzer to the mound to finish the fifth.

Central Florida would then cut the Manatees to 5-4 after an RBI single by Swank and two-run triple by sophomore Marcus Bradshaw. Meanwhile, Hill II already sent redshirt freshman Cole Dement to finish the sixth.

After the seventh went scoreless, the Patriots would take their first lead of the game as sophomore Miles Curley would hit a two-run homer to left for his third of the season and gave them a 6-5 lead. Dement would finish through the inning.

Going into the bottom of the ninth, the Manatees would pull together the offense they needed. After Davis lead off with a single, sophomore CJ Richard would come in as a pinch runner and steal second before Ryan drew a walk. Freshman Ryan Kaitz would then come in to pinch run for Ryan before Smith pulled Geinzer and sent freshman Colson Altman to the mound.

After the change, Boykin would send a bunt single to third base and load the bases for Brauner, who would get hit by a pitch and bring in Richard to tie the game at 6-6. All eyes turned towards Gil Fernandez on an 0-1 count as the upcoming transfer for Florida International University towered a grand slam to left for his sixth home run of the season and second career grand slam for the walk off victory.

"When I went to the at-bat, I wanted to do the job," said Gil Fernandez. "I was looking to hit the ball far and hard to score a run and win the game. The result was a lot better than I expected when I knew it was out. My reaction was pretty exciting because I was looking for that moment and me doing it was something that has no emotion to describe but electric. When I was rounding the bases, I felt that I was on the sky and all the struggles and hard work I put in paid off in the end."

"Allan is a good hitter," said Hill II. "It was great to see him come through when the team needed it. I thought when he first hit it, the game was over because it would be at least a sacrifice fly, but obviously he got it much better that that for a walk off grand slam."

Both Ray and Toro would earn no-decision. Ray would give up four runs (three earned) on seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts in five and two-thirds innings, while Toro gave up five runs (two earned) on 10 hits with two strikeouts in four and a third innings.

Dement would improve to 2-1 after giving up two runs on two hits with one walk in three and a third innings of relief.

Altman would fall to 1-1 and get a blown save after giving up three runs on two hits in no innings of relief.

Five Manatees had a multi-hit game with two having three hits. It was Gil Fernandez that lead the offense as he went 2-for-5 with a grand slam and two runs. Brauner would lead the way in hitting as he went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs, while Boykin went 3-for-5 with a run.

Ryan would go 2-for-3 with a run and two walks, while Davis rounded out the order going 2-for-4 with a run. Counts (1-for-5, one RBI), O'Sullivan (1-for-4, two RBI) and sophomore Hayden Gustavson (1-for-4) had the remaining hits for the Manatees.

For the Patriots, Bradshaw (2-for-5, two RBI), Swank (2-for-3, one RBI and two runs) and sophomore Armando Guirola (2-for-4, one run) each had two hits in the game.

Other Citrus Conference Scores:

#13 Florida Southwestern (26-9, 12-7 Citrus) 10, Daytona State (11-19, 9-10 Citrus) 2

Miami Dade (19-15, 10-9 Citrus) 9, Hillsborough (14-19, 6-13 Citrus) 8

Seminole State College of Florida (21-15, 9-10 Citrus) 5, Santa Fe (17-19, 8-11 Citrus) 3

St. Pete (4-29, 2-17 Citrus) 7, Eastern Florida State (20-15, 9-10 Citrus) 4

Citrus Conference Standings:

1. #7 Indian River State (24-8, 14-4)

2. #13 Florida Southwestern (26-9, 12-7)

3. SCF (24-12, 12-7)

4. Polk State (21-16, 11-7)

5.  #11 Central Florida (26-9, 11-8)

6. Miami Dade (19-15, 10-9

7. Seminole State College of Florida (21-15, 9-10)

8. Eastern Florida State (20-15, 9-10)

9. Daytona State (11-19, 9-10)

10. Santa Fe (17-19, 8-11)

11. Hillsborough (14-19, 6-13)

12. St. Pete (4-29, 2-17)

Up Next:

The Manatees look to go for the series as they head to Ocala to face Central Florida at Goodlett Field Saturday afternoon, March 30 at 12 and 3 pm. Freshman Lochlan Radloff (4-3, 4.28 ERA) will be given the nod to start game one, while sophomore Oscar Hernandez (6-2, 2.96 ERA) will start game two.