LEESBURG, Fla. – In a display of pure offensive dominance, the College of Central Florida (CF) baseball team turned a tight non-conference battle into a blowout, defeating Lake-Sumter State College 19-8 on Tuesday afternoon. The game was halted in the sixth inning at Mike Matulia Field due to the run rule.

The Patriots (30-16) racked up 13 hits and took advantage of seven walks and several defensive miscues by the Lakehawks (30-18) to secure their 30th win of the season.

Early Back-and-Forth

The contest began as a high-scoring slugfest. CF jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Amaury De Jesus. However, Lake-Sumter responded immediately in the bottom half when Mason Blackburn launched a three-run home run to tie the game.

The Lakehawks took the lead in the second inning, scoring three runs on a two-RBI double by Noah Morales and an RBI single by Josiah Haslem, putting the Patriots in a 6-3 hole.

CF battled back in the third, as Tanner Swank delivered a clutch two-RBI single. Shortly after, Amaury De Jesus showed off his speed and awareness, stealing home during a strikeout to pull the Patriots even at 6-6.

The Explosion

The fourth inning proved to be the turning point. The Patriots' bats caught fire, sending 12 men to the plate and scoring seven runs. Victor Martinez sparked the rally with an RBI double, followed by a two-RBI single from Balint Piros. The exclamation point came from De Jesus, who crushed a three-run home run to right field, extending the lead to 13-6.

The onslaught continued in the fifth as CF added six more runs. The Patriots displayed disciplined plate appearances, drawing several bases-loaded walks before Jose Correa and Ignacio Salaverria added RBI hits to push the score to 19-7.

Standout Performers

• Amaury De Jesus: Had a career day, going 3-for-3 with a home run, six RBIs, three runs scored, and a stolen base (including a steal of home).

• Victor Martinez: Went 2-for-2 with two doubles, two walks, and three runs scored.

• Tanner Swank: Finished 1-for-2 with three RBIs and two walks.

• Ignacio Salaverria: Recorded three hits and scored twice.

On the mound, Caden Carroll (4-1) earned the victory in relief. Carroll provided stability after a rocky start for the Patriots, tossing two innings and striking out five batters to keep the Lakehawk comeback at bay.

Up Next

The Patriots will look to carry this offensive momentum back into conference play as they continue their push toward the postseason. Central Florida's next matchup sees them returning home on Thursday to Ocala to host Polk State at Goodlett Field at 3 pm.