The College of Central Florida Patriots (20-1) baseball team scored five runs over the first two innings and cruised to an 8-2 win over the Lake-Sumter State College Lake Hawks (7-12) on Monday afternoon in Leesburg. Kareh Valentin's two-run double in the first scored two runners and John Marant's fifth home run of the season in the second inning gave the Pats the early 5-0 lead. CF would not score again until the eighth inning when Edwin Toribio doubled home Aaron Saltsman and Marant who had both walked. A Juan Correa sacrifice fly gave the Pats the final margin of victory.

 

J.D. Smith (2-0) earned the win by pitching five innings in relief of starter Logan Plasencia (3.0 IP, 2H, 2R, 2K) allowing only three hits, no runs, no walks, and striking out six Lake Hawk batters. Ian Moore pitched the 9th inning with no hits, no runs, and a strike out.

 

The Patriots learned after the game that they were ranked the #1 NJCAA baseball team in the nation when the first national poll was released. The team is proud of this accomplishment, but as a whole realizes the need to keep getting better every game to stay at the top.

 

CF will return to Goodlett Field in Ocala on Wednesday at 2:30 PM to play game two against Lake Sumter.