Eastern Florida State College's baseball team edged out Seminole 9-8 in a tense conference game at Space Coast Stadium on Friday. The win keeps the Panthers in the thick of the conference standings as the season enters its final stretch. The game, played before a crowd of 1,200 fans, featured six lead changes and ended in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Panthers' pitcher, Jake Martinez, held Seminole to two runs over six innings, striking out seven batters. His performance came after a shaky start in which Seminole scored three runs in the third inning. Eastern Florida responded with a four-run fifth, fueled by a two-run double by sophomore outfielder Marcus Lee.
Coach David Reynolds called the win 'a statement game' for his team. 'We've been working on clutch hitting all season,' he said. 'Today, our guys delivered when it mattered most.' The Panthers' offense capitalized on six Seminole errors, including a critical misplay in the seventh inning that allowed two runs to score.
Seminole's head coach, Mark Thompson, praised his team's effort but acknowledged the loss. 'We gave ourselves a chance to win,' he said. 'Eastern Florida played better baseball in the key moments.' The loss drops Seminole to 12-10 in conference play, while Eastern Florida improves to 18-8.
The Panthers will face Florida Gateway College next Friday in a crucial matchup that could determine the conference's top seed. Fans are encouraged to attend the game at Space Coast Stadium, which has hosted 12 conference games this season.