Ocala, FL-- The College of Central Florida baseball team maintained its share of the lead in the Mid-Florida Conference with an 8-4 road win over Daytona State on Wednesday afternoon.

Down 3-0 after the first two innings, the Patriots knew it needed to get something going. 

First baseman Justin Ambrosino started things off with a bunt base hit. Collin Woody followed with a double down the first base line to set up runners on second and third. David Lugo reaches first off a miss catch by Daytona's second baseman Austin Marrs and drives in Ambrosino for the first Patriots run of the day.

With two outs in the fifth inning, Ryan Crile draws the walk from Phoenix Saunders to load the bases for Christian Khawam. Khawam delivers a base-clearing double to deep center to put the Patriots up 4-3. Two batters later, Ryan Smith would single to left to drive in the fifth run of the inning. 

Patriots go on to add three insurance runs, two in the sixth and one in the eighth, to secure their ninth conference win.  

Boomer Biegalski (6-2) struck out eight and earned the win for the Patriots, who have won four straight conference games and six of their last seven against MFC foes.

CF (24-13, 9-4) remained tied with St. Johns River State (26-12, 9-4), an 8-0 winner Wednesday over Santa Fe (20-12, 8-5), which entered the day in a three-way tie for first place with the Patriots and Vikings.

The Patriots were led at the plate by Khawam (three RBI) and Lugo (two RBI), as well as Woody (three hits) and Crile (three hits).

CF will host Daytona State (13-13, 6-6) on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m.