The Florida State College at Jacksonville baseball team traveled to play USC Sumter in a three-game series in the Palmetto State this weekend. FSCJ took the middle game of the series bringing the current season record to 5-7. 

USC Sumter 3, FSCJ 1

A low scoring Friday night affair led off the weekend under the lights. The boys in blue took a 1-0 lead in the 3^rd inning on a Noah Wood RBI single. USC Sumter would counter with 1 of their own in the 5^th by taking advantage of FSCJ free passes and 2 in the 6^th on a big home run to grab the 3-1 victory. Cayden Robinson started for the BlueWave, going 4.2 innings, allowing 1 run on 2 hits, walking 5 and striking out 5. Dylan Cope (0-1) took the loss for FSCJ, going 1 innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits, 1 walk, and 1 strikeout. Connor Nelson threw the final 2.1 innings, allowing 0 runs on 2 hits and 1 walk. Noah Wood and Ashton Nugent had multi-hit games.

FSCJ 6, USC Sumter 3

Game 2 proved to be a late comeback for FSCJ, as 5 runs in the final two frames pushed them to the win. Initially taking a 1-0 lead on a 1^st inning Carson Womer RBI groundout, the Fire Ants claimed the lead for their own in the bottom of the 1^st with three quick runs off of a right field long ball. The game remained locked at 3-1 USCS until the top of the 6^th when FSCJ tied it with a Womer RBI double and a Alex Monile RBI groundout. 3 more runs got added in the top of the 7^th on a Isaac Newman bases-loaded walk and a Matt Retamoza 2-RBI single. That 6-3 lead would be enough for Joshua Rouw to slam the door in the 7^th for his second career save. Brady Ellison (1-2) got his first win of the season, pitching 6 innings, allowing only the three first inning runs, striking out 5 to 0 walks. Womer and Noah Wood had multi-hit games.

USC Sumter 9, FSCJ 4

The rubber match of the series fell into the hands of the Fire Ants, behind a strong start from their pitcher and a 6-run 4^th inning. FSCJ would put up 4 runs in the 7^th on 2-RBI doubles from Sean Esquinaldo and Pedro Morales, but it would be too little too late. Jaden Paradoa (1-1) took the loss for FSCJ, allowing 4 earned runs (7 total) in 3 innings pitched on 5 hits, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts. Ethan Wilford, Ethan Yesensky, and Ethan Carroll provided 5.2 innings of shutout relief.

What's Next?

FSCJ will play travel to South Georgia State College on Tuesday for a midweek doubleheader at 2:00 PM. The weekend will be the Sun-Lakes Conference opener, featuring a split series with Lake-Sumter State College – Friday at home at 3:00 PM and Saturday having a road doubleheader at 12:00 PM in Leesburg.