The College of Central Florida Patriots opened up their defense of the first National Championship in school history by dropping all three games in the Ed Davis JUCO Kickoff Classic played at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale, Florida. The Pats lost the opener on Friday to perennial powerhouse, Chipola College, 14-2 . Immediately following that game CF lost to St. Petersburg College 7-1. On Saturday the Pats squandered a 6-0 lead and fell to Hillsborough Community College, 11-8.

CF finally got into the win column when they returned to Goodlett Field on Tuesday for their home opener and defeated A3 Academy 8-0.

Pitching was dominant in the opener as four Patriot pitchers combined to throw a 2-hit shutout. Sebastian Perez started and went two innings allowing only one hit with one strikeout. Miles Curley, an outfielder by trade, would throw an inning striking out two Trojan batters. Following Curley was freshman Karson Lindsey, a North Marion HS graduate, who threw four shutout innings allowing one hit with two strikeouts. Lindsey earned the win to improve to 1-0 on the season. Luke Ridley, Polk State transfer, relieved Lindsey in the eighth inning with no outs and two runners on and secured the shutout by facing only three batters to end the rally.

The offense was led by Gunnett Carlson who went 2-4 with a double, HR and three RBI, Armando Guirola who had a two-run single, and Kareh Valentin who was 2-3 with and RBI double. Valentin also had an outstanding defensive game at shortstop.

Central Florida improves to 1-3 on the season and will continue their home stand with a 1 PM game on Friday vs. South Florida State College and a 1 PM game on Saturday vs. TNXL Academy.