The CF Pats opened up the FCSAA/Region VIII Tournament with a 7-6 victory over Gulf Coast State on Wednesday. The Pats had a 7-2 lead after four and held on after Gulf Coast clawed their way back in the game. 

Gulf Coast got on the board first with a run in the first inning The Pats tied it up in the second when Emma Rogel tripled and scored on a sharply hit ground ball by Caitlin Blankeship that was too tough for the shortstop to handle. Gulf Coast took the lead back with a lead off solo shot in the third off Patriot starter Haley Guffey. CF came right back and scored two runs in the bottom of the inning. Megan Loftis led off with a walk and stole second before Leah Clark hit a ground ball to short that got by her and the left fielder. Hailey Scott followed it up with a sac fly to right field for a 3-2 lead. The fourth inning was a big inning for the Pats. They scored four runs on three hits and two walks. Blankenship and Bailey Holmes both singled to get things going. Leah Clark took a bases loaded walk for an RBI and Scott came up big again with a bases clearing triple to right center. 

Haley Guffey earned the win in the circle. She surrendered six runs, three earned, on seven hits over five innings. Emma Wyman was clutch in relief to get the save. She came in with the bases loaded in the sixth and worked around an error to get out of the inning. She threw two innings and allowed only one hit. 

The Pats (45-16) advance in the winner's bracket to play #2 ranked Northwest Florida State (53-3) on Thursday at 4 PM in Clearwater, FL. For full tournament information see the link here: Championship Page