A nine run first inning propelled the College of Central Florida Patriots to a 12-2 run rule five inning victory over the Northwest Florida State Raiders in their opening game of the FCSAA Division 1/NJCAA South Atlantic District Baseball Championship played at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland.

The Patriots scored all nine first inning runs after two outs. Kareh Valentin knocked in the first two runs with a scorching double to right field, followed immediately by Kainen Jorge's RBI double to almost the exact location as Valentin's. After a Thad Ector walk, Mike Guilliams singled home Jorge to make it 4-0 Pats. Cole Bullen walked in front of Bradke Lohry's two-run single. John Marant then launched a towering opposite field home run to deep left center field to complete the scoring in the top of the first. Carson Bayne would blast his eighth HR of the season in the top of the fourth inning to make it 10-0. CF would add the final two runs on a bases loaded hit by pitch of Lohry and a Marant sacrifice fly.

Andrew Herrmann tossed a complete game to earn his fifth win of the season and improve his record to 5-1. Herrmann only allowed two unearned runs on four hits, and struck out four batters.
Leading hitters for the Patriots were Marant (2-3, HR, 4 RBI), Lohry (1-3, 3 RBI), Juan Correa (2-3), Valentin (1-3, 2B, 2 RBI), Jorge (1-3, 2B, RBI), and Guilliams (2-2, RBI).

The Patriots (49-6, 1-0) will take on the Sharks of Miami-Dade College (34-14-1, 1-0)) on Saturday, 5:00 PM in a rematch of last season's state championship game won.