The College of Central Florida Patriots clinched the Mid-Florida Conference Championship in dramatic fashion on Saturday afternoon when Landon Ginn blasted a two-out grand slam home run that ended the game via the run-rule and the gave the Pats an 11-1 win over Lake Sumter State College and their second MFC championship in the past three seasons. The Pats have now qualified for the NJCAA Region 8 State Tournament. CF will host a first-round playoff series against the yet to be determined runner-up in the Panhandle Conference on May 6th & 7th.

The Pats were in control for the entire game as they scored four runs in the first inning on a three-run double by Victor Castillo and an RBI single from Jackson Taylor. CF didn't score again until the fifth inning when Carson Bayne hit a towering home run to left field for a 6-0 Pats lead. It was Bayne's fifth home run of the season. A Kevin Kilpatrick sacrifice fly in the seventh made it 7-0. As the Pats built their lead CF starting pitcher Ben Chestnutt was shutting down the Lake Hawk offense. Chestnutt who just last week committed to play at the University of Miami in Coral Gables next season tossed six innings, giving up six hits, no runs and striking out eleven batters. Chestnutt earned his ninth win of the season against zero losses to lead NJCAA Region 8 in wins. Connor Godwin threw two innings in relief allowing only one unearned run, two hits and struck out four batters.

Leading hitters for the game include: Ginn (3-6, 2R, HR, 4RBI), Castillo (1-3, R, 2B, 3RBI), and Bayne (1-3, 3R, HR, 2RBI).

The Patriots improved to 36-13 over-all and 22-2 in conference play. Their winning streak is currently at 14 in a row and 23 of their last 24 games.

The Patriots still have six games remaining on their regular season conference schedule as they open up a three-game series with St. Johns River State College in Palatka on Monday, 6:00 PM. Pats next home game will be Wednesday versus St. Johns River at 3:00 PM.