By Pat Clines

New Port Richey, Fla - The RV SCF baseball team (7-4) continued their winning streak as they defeated Pasco Hernando State (8-4) 11-7. This is their first sweep against a non-conference opponent.

"It was a nice win over Pasco Hernando," said head coach Tim Hill II. "While we had a few too many walks from our pitching, we played good defense and swung the bats well while remaining in control of the game the entire way."

Hill sent sophomore Gavyn Bowen to start on the mound, while Pasco Hernando head coach Lydon Coleman went with redshirt sophomore Logan Waldschmidt to counter.

The Manatees would open on the board first at the top of the first. After a two-out single by sophomore Walker Vanecek, freshman Ben Ryan would put some power in his swing as he hit a two-run home run for his second of the season and a 2-0 SCF lead. The lead would increase further at the top of the second as freshman Bernard Barnes began with a leadoff single and moving to second on a wild pitch. After a single by sophomore Connor O'Sullivan brought in Barnes, freshman Will Rawls would hit a single of his own before classmate Dominic Donatucci brought O'Sullivan and Rawls in with a double for a 6-0 lead.

At the top of the third, the Manatees would make it 7-0 as Ryan opened with a leadoff double. After sophomore Luke Boykin drove in Ryan with a double of his own, the Bobcats would make a change and send Aiden Ellerts to replace Waldschmidt. After the pitching change, freshman Holden Brauner would hit a single and bring in Boykin to make it 7-0 SCF. 

In the bottom half of the inning, the Bobcats would cut the Manatees' lead to 7-3 after putting their first runs on the scoreboard.The Manatees continued putting runs on the board at the top of the fourth. After a leadoff walk by freshman Mattie Counts, Vanecek would hit a double before Ryan loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch. Boykin would then send a single to left and bring in Counts and Ryan for a 9-3 lead.

The Bobcats would then score in the bottom of the fifth after an RBI single by sophomore Fano Cruz, but Manatees would respond at the top of the seventh as Vanecek would provide power with a two-run homer to right-center for his first of the season to give the Manatees an 11-4 lead.

The Bobcats would add three more runs in the bottom of the seventh and ninth inning, but it would ultimately not be enough as the Manatees held on to seal the victory.

Bowen would earn a no-decison after throwing two scoreless innings with two walks and two strikeouts. Sophomore Frank Villella would earn the win and improve to 2-0 after giving up one run on one hit with two walks in one inning of relief.

Waldschmidt would get the loss after giving up six runs on eight hits with one strikeout in two innings.

All nine Manatees in the starting lineup had at least one hit in the game with five have a two hits or more. It was Vanecek that lead the way as the upcoming transfer for the University of Tampa went a tied career-high 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored. Boykin would follow going 3-for-5 with two RBI and one run. Ryan (2-for-4), Donatucci (2-for-6) and Brauner (2-for-4) rounded out the order with two hits each. Ryan added two runs and two RBI while throwing one scoreless inning of relief, Donatucci added two RBI and Brauner added one RBI and one walk.

Counts (1-for-4, two runs and one walk), O'Sullivan (1-for-3, one run), Rawls (1-for-4, one run, one RBI and one walk) and freshman Bernard Barnes (1-for-3, one run and two walks; one inning of relief) had one hit each, while sophomore Duke McCarron (one-third of an inning) and freshmen Austin Monahan (one and two-thirds innings of relief with two strikeouts), Aidan Ray (one inning of relief with one strikeout) and James Kleiven (one inning of relief with two strikeouts) also contributed in the game.

For the Bobcats, freshman Juan Lopez lead the way in hitting as he went 2-for-4 with three RBI.

Up Next:

The Manatees will look to open Citrus Conference play strong as they face Seminole State College (7-4) Thursday, February 13 at 2 pm and Saturday, February 15 at 2 and 5 pm.