Titans Clinch Tournament Berth With Dramatic 13th Inning Victory

Eastern Florida's baseball team refused to quit on Wednesday and when the dust had cleared after 13 nerve-wracking innings the Titans had earned a spot in the postseason.

Sophomore catcher Luis Ciuro drove home freshman Sammy Duran from second base with one out in the bottom of the 13^th to lift the Titans to an 8-7 come-from-behind victory over Palm Beach State.

The victory at Bruce Bochy Field improved Eastern Florida's FCSAA Southern Conference record to 17-10 both preserving its half-game first-place lead and giving it its first outright NJCAA District/FCSAA Tournament berth in head coach Jeff Tam's time at the helm.

The Titans can clinch their first conference title in recent years with a victory at 5 p.m. Thursday at home against Miami Dade College. Admission is free.

Palm Beach closed its season at 15-13.

Broward College beat Miami Dade 2-1 on Wednesday to finish its regular season at 17-11, also securing a tournament berth.

Miami Dade fell to 15-12.

Early on Wednesday things went Eastern Florida's way as it built a 5-1 lead after four innings. But Palm Beach chipped away, scoring six runs in three innings to take a 7-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

That's when Eastern Florida freshman Ian Lisle collected his third hit, driving in two runs to tie things at 7-7.

"He threw me fastballs every at bat," said Lisle. "The last one I hit was the one off the fence in center. So he was going to throw me another one so I just hacked at it and shot it through the hole.

"We're so together as a family. We lose together and we win together as a family."

Lisle's hit scored Duran and John Capra.

"It was a must win," Lisle said.

Both teams had several opportunities prior to and after the ninth to ice the game but strong pitching and solid defensive plays snuffed out potential rallies to keep things tied.

That was until Ciuro, who caught all 13 innings, summoned one last bit of strength to hit his game winning single, send his teammates rushing onto the field and getting Tam an ice water shower shortly thereafter.

Duran reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt, a play that led an out at third base, appearing to kill another Titan rally.

But Duran stole second positioning himself to score and Ciuro obliged him.

"I was ready for everything," Ciuro said of the pitch from Palm Beach reliever Vince Coletti. "I couldn't hit in the beginning of the game but I stayed with all the energy and I got it done.

"I was looking for something high and it worked. Everything is for the team," added Ciuro who caught all eight innings of Tuesday's 5-4 loss at Palm Beach that set the stage for Wednesday.

"That's how we win. I'm going to do anything by myself."

Reliever Tim Luth picked up the victory, allowing two base runners in four innings. Duran and Manny Rodriguez doubled off the runners on throws from the outfield.

"I just kind of went out there and did the best I could," Luth said. "We were in a dogfight there. All I wanted to do was make pitches and keep it a tied ballgame.

"It's tough. Adrenaline gets going. I'm glad we pulled it off."

Lisle finished with four hits while Rodriguez, Duran had three each.