Manta Rays Blast 41 Runs to Win Series vs South Florida

Florida State College at Jacksonville defeated South Florida Baseball on April 11-12, 2025
April 15, 2025

Game 1: FSCJ 15 - SFSC 14

FSCJ Manta Rays had a thrilling 15-14 victory over South Florida State College on Friday. The game was a high-scoring battle, with FSCJ collecting 16 hits and South Florida State College matching that total with 16 of their own. The Manta Rays opened the scoring in the first inning when Alex Monile grounded out, allowing one run to score. They added two more runs in the second inning on a home run to center field by Evan Rodriguez. In the third, Pedro Morales and Nolan Hartsell each hit home runs to extend FSCJ's lead with two more runs.

Gant Geiger earned the win for the Manta Rays, despite allowing eight hits and five runs over four innings, striking out three and walking three. Xavier Glover started for FSCJ, giving up eight hits and eight runs in four innings, also striking out three and walking three. Hansen collected the save for FSCJ. On the other side, Cozzolino took the loss for South Florida State College, surrendering nine runs on eight hits over three and two-thirds innings, with two strikeouts and one walk.

Offensively, FSCJ saw strong performances from several players. Isaac Newman collected three hits, while Jack Newman, Andres Vazquez, Pedro Morales, Billy Girgis, and Logan Disbrow each had multiple hits as well. Newman also led the team with two walks, and the Manta Rays as a whole drew seven walks during the game. Girgis showcased his all-around skill by stealing two bases. Defensively, the Manta Rays played a clean game without committing any errors. 

Game 2: FSCJ 20 - SFSC 8

Dominic Masto delivered a standout performance, driving in six runs on five hits to power the FSCJ Manta Rays to a 20–8 victory over South Florida State College on Saturday. Masto was dominant at the plate, launching a home run to right field in the sixth inning that scored two runs, doubling in the seventh for another two RBIs, hitting a sacrifice fly in the first, and singling in the fifth to score one more run. Both teams swung the bats well, with FSCJ totaling 16 hits and South Florida State College collecting 10 in this high-scoring contest. The Manta Rays got on the board first thanks to Masto's sacrifice fly in the first inning.

South Florida State responded quickly, taking the lead in the bottom of the second after Mercado homered to center, an error allowed another run, and Volz hit an RBI single down the right-field line. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the top of the fifth when FSCJ erupted for 12 runs on eight hits to seize a commanding 14–5 lead. Nolan Hartsell delivered the biggest blow of the inning with a two-RBI double. South Florida State tried to claw back with a solo homer by Sofge in the bottom of the fifth, but Masto's two-run homer in the sixth further widened the gap.

Keyon Ashby started on the mound for FSCJ, giving up four hits and five runs (two earned) across three and two-thirds innings while striking out eight and walking four. Austin Musgrove finished the final 3.1 innings for the Manta Rays, allowing three runs (two earned)on six hits while striking out three.

Offensively, multiple Manta Rays had big days at the plate. Hartsell, Isaac Newman, and Evan Rodriguez each collected multiple hits, while Andres Vazquez led the team with three walks. As a whole, FSCJ showed patience and discipline, drawing nine walks over the course of the game.

Game 3: SFSC 8 - FSCJ 6

The FSCJ Manta Rays fell to South Florida State College, 8–6, in a competitive game on Saturday. FSCJ struck first in the top of the first inning when Jack Newman homered to right field, driving in two runs. South Florida State answered in the fourth with a solo home run by Garcia. In the fifth, Isaac Newman responded with a solo shot of his own to right field for the Manta Rays, but South Florida State quickly countered in the bottom half with a two-run homer from Sofge.

The decisive moment came in the bottom of the seventh inning, when South Florida State College surged ahead. Doorlag doubled to score one run, Carter followed with a two-run homer to right field, and Bermudez capped the rally with a solo home run to right, giving South Florida State the final edge.

On the mound, Keegan Roach started for FSCJ, allowing just three hits and two runs over three innings while striking out seven and walking four. Allison took the mound for South Florida State, giving up six hits and five runs over five innings with nine strikeouts and one walk.

The FSCJ Manta Rays recorded nine hits in the game. Newman contributed two RBIs and provided a spark in the middle of the lineup, while Logan Disbrow led the team at the plate, going 3-for-4. Both Newman and Billy Girgis collected multiple hits in the game for FSCJ.

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