Baseball team falls short in bid for spot in state tournament

The Eastern Florida State College baseball team fought until the final out, but Broward College hung on for the win to advance to the FCSAA State Tournament.

Pablo Barquero Jackson helped the Titans force a Game 3, tossing 6 2/3 strong innings, striking out nine to pick up his seventh win of the season. The 11-3 victory forced a Game 3 with Broward College for a spot in the state tournament.

Clayton Stanley hit his fifth home run of the season and Alejandro Rodriguez had three hits in the first game of the day.

Connor Brian got the start in Game 3 and struggled with his control, lasting just 4 1/3 innings as he struck out seven and walked nine.

Alvaro Valdez hit a two-run double and scored on Collier Rutledge's single to make it 4-0 in the third inning. But the Titans could not add to the lead and Broward got things going in the sixth inning, scoring five times to take a 7-4 lead. The Seahawks would add a run in the seventh inning to lead 8-4.

But the Titans were not done as Bryan Pena hit a two-run double in the top of the eighth inning to cut the lead to 8-6. Stanley would later score to cut the lead to one.

Broward would score what ended up being the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Up 9-7, Alejandro Rodriguez led off with a double in the ninth and had runners on first and third base with two out but could not tie the game. 

Catcher Austin Bates had hits in both games and finishes his career at Eastern Florida State College on a 31-game hitting streak. The 31 straight games is a program record.

Eastern Florida State College finishes the season 31-20 overall.