The State College of Florida Manatees (7-5) ended the College of Central Florida Patriots (10-2) six game winning streak in walk-off fashion Wednesday evening 4-3. It was just a week ago that the Patriots had defeated the Manatees in a walk-off in Ocala. The Patriots had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth on three walks and two Manatee errors and then sent closer, Evan Michelson (2-1) to the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning. With runners on first and second and one out, Harrison Long hit a high chopper that Patriot short stop Nicholas Calero misplayed allowing Dylan Vega to score. An errant throw by left fielder Jeslyn Whitehead on the same play scored Owen Ayers to secure the walk-off win for Manatee. Manatees reliever, Eli Thurmond (1-1) earned the win by closing out the ninth.

Logan Adams (North Carolina State commit) started on the mound for the Patriots and tossed three innings allowing three hits, one run and struck out two batters. Cameron Sereda (University of Tampa commit) threw three no hit innings, allowing no runs and striking out five Manatees.

The Manatees took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Kevin Karstetter drove home Ayers with a single. It took the Pats until the seventh inning to tie the game at 1 when Carlos Gonzalez brought home Kyler Hultgren with a groundball. It did not take long for the Manatees to get the lead back when in the bottom of the seventh inning Richard Rodriguez singled home Jacob Steinberg who had reached with a base hit.

Miguel Useche led the Pats offense by collecting two hits.

Head Coach Marty Smith, who has 797 career wins at CF, stated "It's always a great series with the State College of Florida. The home team has won by a walk-off the last four meetings."

The Pats will once again hit the road this weekend with a 1:00 PM game Friday at South Florida State College in Avon Park and a doubleheader at Indian River State College on Saturday beginning a Noon. Indian River is located in Ft. Pierce, Florida.

Article & Photo Credit: David Houtz