SCF rallies in ninth to down Tallahassee in series opener

BRADENTON, Fla. (February 15, 2013) – Connor Oliver's single to center capped a two-run ninth inning and gave FCSAA No. 6 State College of Florida a 6-5 victory over No. 3 Tallahassee Community College on Friday evening in game one of the teams' two-game weekend series.

Jared Stanley (3-1) took the loss for Tallahassee, who dropped to 10-3 on the season. State College of Florida improved to 11-4. 

Prior to the Manatees' game-winning rally, Tallahassee scored the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth to erase what was once a 4-1 deficit. 

Trent Higginbothem reached base to lead off the ninth after being hit by a pitch for the third time in the game, tying a Tallahassee record held by Luke Smierciak and Garrett McLeod, son of Eagles' head coach, Mike McLeod.

Tyler York's ground out and Chad Mabini's sac bunt left the go-ahead run just 90 feet away. James Abbatinozzi brought Higginbothem home on a bloop single to right, giving the Eagles their first lead of the night, 5-4. 

Trailing 4-1, York's two-RBI single in the seventh got the Eagles within a run. Tallahassee evened the score at 4-all an inning later. 

The abbreviated two-game set between the teams will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday.