JACKSONVILLE, FLA. - Florida State College at Jacksonville hosted their first conference series of the year this weekend at Howard Roey Field as they welcomed Pasco-Hernando State College to North Jacksonville. After FSCJ took the Friday night game 8-7, Pasco came back and won both games of Saturday's doubleheader, 6-3 and 8-7. This takes FSCJ's record to 15-13 (2-4). 

Game One

In the first night game of the year at Roey Field, both teams battled some early game weather, as wind and light rain persisted in the first few innings along with a short delay in the bottom of the first inning. In what proved to be the theme of the weekend, the game was a back and forth affair, with seven lead changes throughout the game. FSCJ took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on Garrett Chun's first home run of the season. PHSC responded with three runs of their own in the top of the third to take a 3-1 lead. FSCJ scored three of their own in the bottom of the third to take a 4-3 lead on a Xavier Cintron sac fly and Barry Eiseman double. Pasco got two back in the fourth inning to go up 5-4. The Blue Wave responded with two runs in the fifth to lead 6-5 on a Xavier Cintron bunt single and a Barry Eiseman sac fly. The Bobcats tied it one final time at 6-all in the seventh before FSCJ took the lead for good at 8-6 on a Xavier Cintron single and Evan Wickeri sac fly. PHSC would tack on one final run to bring the final to 8-7 in favor of the home Wave. Daniel Gaviria was the starting pitcher for the Blue Wave, going 6 innings, allowing 3 earned runs and striking out a season-high 9 batters. Patrick Groark picked up his first win of the season to improve to 1-1, going the final 2.1 innings, allowing one unearned run and striking out two. Cam Wademan, Barry Eiseman, and Xavier Cintron all had multi-hit games. Eiseman and Cintron also had multi-RBI games.

Game Two

In the lone 7-inning game of the weekend, Pasco-Hernando took an early lead and and kept the Wave at bay just enough. Down 2-0 entering the bottom of the third, FSCJ scored their first run of the day by way of a Cam Wademan sac fly to make the score 2-1. In the very next inning, the Blue Wave tied to game at 2-apiece on Evan Wickeri's sixth home run of the season. In the top of the fifth inning, the Bobcats would deal a three spot that could not be overcome. FSCJ tacked on one final run on a wild pitch, but fell 6-3. FSCJ starter Brian Veniard suffered his first loss of the year (3-1), pitching 5.2 innings and giving up four earned runs. Wickeri was the bright spot at the plate, going 3 for 3 with a double and a home run. 

Game Three

The final game of the weekend turned out to be the rubber match for the series. An early low scoring affair turned into a late exchange of runs saw 16 different Blue Wave players pressed into action. FSCJ trailed 1-0 through four innings before PHSC added two more runs in the fifth. The boys in blue answered with a run of their own in the fifth on an Evan Wickeri sac fly before exploding for four runs in the sixth, all with two outs, on a Xavier Cintron two-RBI double and a Barry Eiseman two-RBI single. Pasco tied the game in the seventh on two solo home runs, and took an 8-5 lead on a three-run home run in the eighth. FSCJ would not go away quietly in the bottom of the ninth however, as Evan Wickeri hit his seventh home run of the season to lead off the inning and make it 8-6. After a fielding error and a Jack Gidcumb single, JC Medina singled home another run to make it 8-7. The Blue Wave would strand the tying run at third and the winning run at second. Dylan Dudones started on the mound for the Wave, going four innings and allowing one run while striking out five. Blake Wood took the loss on the mound (1-2). Colby Lipovsky struck out four in two innings of work. Xavier Cintron, Barry Eiseman, and Evan Wickeri all had two-hit and two-RBI games. 

What's Next?

FSCJ will play host to Edward Waters University JV on Monday for a 2:00 PM doubleheader.